GRASSES. 143 



A more familiar topic, and one of greater interest to the most 

 of us, is the grasses of our meadows and pastures. They are the 

 grasses which feed our cattle ; they are the grasses which brighten 

 and beautify the landscape. They are numerous in species, and 

 a mighty host in individual numbers. I would it were possible 

 for me to introduce to you the various members of the grass 

 family which have made a home upon our soils. Each one has 

 a history ; each one lias its peculiar characteristics, distinguish- 

 ing it from its neighbors. Each one has its field of usefulness, 

 and many of them stand ready to become far more useful, if 

 we will but extend to them the helping hand whicli we have held 

 out to the few cultivated grasses, to shield them from the at- 

 tacks of enemies and rivals, and aid them in their struggle for 

 existence. The}^ are all beautiful in their gracefulness, and 

 nothing adds more charm to the landscape than a field of waving 

 grasses or a pasture of emerald turf. Did you ever stop to 

 think of one of the prime featiires of these grasses which makes 

 them so useful to man ? It is this : their power to exist under 

 repeated cuttings or under the continued grazing and tramping 

 of stock. What other plants possess this quality, even to a slight 

 degree ? To graze or mow the turf-forming species, and walk or 

 tramp upon them, instead of destroying them, apparently adds 

 to their vitality, and surely improves their quality. This cer- 

 tainly seems like a provision in nature, directed by an all-wise 

 Providence, for the good of mankind. 



I must confine myself to a few species, those of greatest recog- 

 nized importance for hay, for pasture, or for the lawn. The best 

 wild or native hay grasses are Blue Joint, Fowl ]\readow grass, a 

 species of Glyceria, and one of the Muhlenbergias or " drop- 

 seeds." These are valuable in the order named, and often afford 

 in our low-lying meadows a large bulk of native hay of excellent 

 quality. Like other species of grasses, they respond readily to 

 good treatment, and the specimens I have here to show you, 

 clearly exhibit their capabilities. Timothy, Meadow Fescue, 

 Orchard grass, Eye grass, and Redtop are the chief and best 

 known of the cultivated or so-called " tame " grasses for the pro- 

 duction of hay. In the markets, Timothy is the recognized stand- 

 ard by which the value of otlier grasses is estimated. It is the 

 farmer's gold coin, although it does not appear to me to be equal 

 in some respects to other varieties. Its clean appearance, even 



