116 



TWITCH GRASS. 



striated sheaths ; the joints are smooth, the two upper- 

 most very remote ; leaves dark green, acute, upper one 



broader than the lower ones, 

 roughish, sometimes hairy 

 on the inner surface, smooth 

 on the lower half. Inflores- 

 cence in spikes. A spike- 

 let is seen magnified in Fig. 

 92. Flowers in June and 

 July. Introduced from Eu- 

 rope. 



This plant is generally 

 regarded by farmers as a 

 troublesome weed, and ef- 

 forts are made to get rid of 

 it. Its long, creeping roots, 

 branching in every direc- 

 tion, take complete posses- 

 sion of the soil, and impov- 

 erish it. When green, how- 

 ever, it is very much rel- 

 ished by cattle, and, if cut 

 in the blossom, it makes a 

 nutritious hay. Dogs eat 

 the leaves of this grass, and 

 those of one 

 other species, 

 for their medi- 

 cinal qualities 

 in exciting vom- 

 iting. I have 

 seen acres of it 

 on the Connecti- 

 cut River mead- 

 rig. 91. couch Grass. Fig. 92. ows, where it 



