908 



THE COMPLETE GRAZIER. 



BOOK x. 



thumb. One other adulterant, only found, however, in foreign foxtail 

 seed, is the seed of the exotic ciliated melic grass (Melica ciliata, L.), 

 but this is easily recognised by the extraordinary extent to which its 

 glumes are fringed with delicate white hairs (cilia). 



FLOATING FOXTAIL (Alopecurus geniculatus, L.) is an elegant little 

 grass (fig. 401) found almost exclusively in water meadows, and around 

 the edges of ponds. Its stem is too weak to grow upright, and it 

 therefore rests upon the ground, or upon the adjacent herbage, being 

 easily recognizable by the sharp joints or " knees," which give to it a 

 zigzag appearance. When in full flower the pollen covers its neat and 



Fig. 401. Floating Foxtail. 



Alopecurus geniculatus. 



Fig. 402. Slender Foxtail. 



Alopecurus agrestis. 



shapely ear with an orange brown dust. Floating foxtail is never very 

 abundant, and though not an objectionable grass in the moist localities 

 which it frequents, it cannot be said to possess any special agricultural 

 value, nor is its seed to be obtained upon the market. 



SLENDER FOXTAIL (Alopecurus agrestis, L.), is one of the worst 

 pests of the farm. It is a troublesome weed of arable land, especially 

 on corn fields, but rarely invades the meadow or pasture. It possesses 

 (fig. 402) the general habit of the valuable meadow foxtail, but is less 

 robust, and its ear, besides being more slender, is blotched with 

 black, hence the name of Black Bent commonly applied to it. 

 Another familiar name, and one indicative of its bad character, is that 

 of Hungerweed. It may be found in ear in May and June, and, if not 

 removed before shedding its seed, further trouble may be looked for in 

 the following season. Cases are recorded in which fields of wheat 

 have been quite destroyed by this pest. A caution has already been 

 given as to the occurrence of its seed in samples of meadow foxtail seed. 



MEADOW GRASSES (Poa). These grasses are characterised by the 



