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HAMPSHIRE DAYS 



species called (in books) heath false brome grass, but 

 as lips of man refuse to pronounce these four ponderous 

 monosyllables, the invention of some dreary botanist, 

 that follow and jolt against each other, I will venture 

 to rename it good-for-nothing grass. For it is useless 



to the farmer, since no domestic herbivore will touch 

 it ; its sole justification is its exceeding beauty. It 

 grows as high as a man's knees, or higher, and even 

 in the driest, hottest season keeps its wonderfully vivid 

 fresh green, as near a brilliant colour as any green leaf 

 can be; and the stalks and graceful spikes after the 



