THE GRASSES. 



49 



Fig. 20 Timothy, also called Herds Grass, a typical hay grass. Figures on right show 

 the blossoming. B is a single spikelet taken from a head or spike. It shows the three 

 stamens and the two stigmas of the pistil. In a blossoming head of timothy these 

 stamens may be seen hanging loose. G is the ovary with two slender styles, /, and 

 two feathered stigmasthe pistils of the blossom. Br is the matured or ripened spike- 

 let with seed inside; A" is the seed. 



When a grass plant grows tall and produces seed or grain 

 large enough to use as food, we allow it to ripen its seed. We 

 use the seed as grain and the leaf and stem we call straw. 



When a grass plant grows tall, but produces very small seed, 

 we generally cut it down before it produces seed. We then 

 call this hay. Such grasses are timothy, red-top, orchard grass, 

 the fescues, the foxtails, brome grass, and rye grass. 



