356 NATURAL HISTORY. 



bristles ; stem tall, smooth ; flowers not numerous, in 

 loose panicles ; an erect, elegant grass, growing in tufts. 

 Grows on hills or in shady woods, and with all others of 

 the Avenae tribe, makes rather poor provender for cattle. 



Tall Oat Grass Golden (Avena flavescens), root 

 somewhat creeping ; leaves flat, and clothed with soft 

 white hairs ; stem one and a half to two feet high ; flow- 

 ers yellow ; spikelets in panicles ; blooms in June and 

 July in meadows and lots or by road-sides, and with all 

 other genera of the arrhenatherum, is eaten readily by 

 all species of cattle. 



French Ray Grass or Honey Grass (Holcus avena- 

 ceus) resembles oats; root tuberous and knotty; leaves 

 flat and sharply pointed ; stem hollow and bare ; inflor- 

 escence-spikelets from two to five ; flowers in a large, 

 loose, somewhat nodding panicle ; bloom in June, July, 

 and August. Grows in fields, and meadows, etc. ; suc- 

 ceeds best in tolerably rich soils, endures for many years, 

 and can be cut for hay two or three times in one season ; 

 makes excellent fodder. 



Common Ray Grass Brome Grass (Bromus gigan- 

 teus), leaves oblong, broad, naked ; stem three to four 

 feet high ; panicles small and loose ; flowers in June, 

 July, and August. Grows in moist fields and damp 

 woods, and, like all other grasses of the bromus tribe, 

 makes alike very poor pasture and hay. 



Sheep's Fescue or Manna Grass (Festuca ovina). 

 Leaves very narrow and sharp-pointed ; stem one to two 

 feet high, almost four square; panicle few-flowered, 

 simple, and contracted ; blooms in May and June. A 

 valuable grass, grows in dry soils, is common, and affords 

 with all others of the fescue tribe, excellent pasturage for 

 sheep. 



