58 



HOW TO GROW GOOD GRASSES. 



that makes the grasses such important indicators of 

 the nature and condition of soils. 



The Catstail Grass (Phleum 

 pratcnse, fig. 14) in general 

 form is not unlike the preced- 

 ing, but it is much rougher in 

 all its parts, and is one of the 

 latest instead of one of our 

 earliest species. Its name of 

 catstail is due to its rough 

 flowers, an enlarged drawing 

 of one of which is given at a. 

 It has also got the name of 

 Timothy Grass, from one Mr. 

 Timothy Hanson, an Ameri- 

 can, to whom, probably, is 

 owing its first introduction as 

 a " self-crop," large fields of 

 this useful species, mostly by 

 itself, being grown in Canada 

 and the States as a fodder 

 plant. It is very useful in 

 the meadow, as supplying a 

 late crop of stems and leaves, 

 the amount of herbage in some 

 of the colder though not poor districts. 



We have never seen this grass used as a self-crop 

 in England, but we are convinced that on some of the 

 rich alluvial flats, as in the lands reclaimed from the 

 Severn, and warp soils in general, it would yield a 

 large bulk of good feeding matter, which, though 

 somewhat rough, would yet mix well with clovers, 

 &c, in chaff-cutting. 



The Sweet Vernal Grass {Antlwxantlmm odoratum, 



Fig. 14. The Catstail Grass. 



greatly augmenting 



