354 NATURAL HISTORY. 



Grows in pasture lands on the borders of stagnant 

 waters ; blooms in May or June ; as food for cattle 

 rather indifferent. 



Low or Creeping Reed Grass Sedge Grass (Carex 

 supina). Root creeping ; glumes, (outer chaff, or stunted 

 leaf sheaths), small and sharply acute; stalk smooth, tall, 

 rigid ; ears or spikes small. Grows on hills and in dry 

 pasture lands. Blooms in May and makes indifferent 

 fodder. 



Early Reed Bent Grass (Carex prsecox), creeping 

 root ; leaflets small, acute, boat-shaped ; chaff-glumes 

 smooth, poor ; ears wedge-shaped. Found in sunny 

 places, appearing verdant as soon as the snow is gone. 

 Flowers in March, April, and May. Sheep eat it with 

 great readiness. 



IT. AGROSTIDE.E. TRUE GRASSES. 



The Common Red Top Bent Grass (Agrostis vul- 

 garis) has a running root ; leaves linear, flat, rough ; 

 stalk or stem one foot high, erect ; panicle spreading, 

 with the branches finally divaricate. A common grass, 

 spread over hills, vales, and meadows, forming a soft, 

 dense turf. Blooms in June and August, and makes 

 valuable fodder for sheep. 



The Dog's Bent Grass (Agrostis canina), root creep- 

 ing ; upper leaves linear, flat ; lower rather crowded at 

 base of the stem, rough ; spikes upright or bending, 

 smooth ; grain triangular, ovoid, dark brown. Blooms 

 in July and August, and in the latter part of summer 

 makes a fine turf, alike over dry and damp places, yards, 

 lanes, etc. Cattle, sheep, and hogs are fond of feeding 

 on it. 



