AQUATICS. SALT-MARSH GRASSES. 207 



have this property. This mode of growth has a far 

 more important bearing upon practical agriculture than 

 one, at first view, would suppose ; since it stores away 

 near the surface a vast accumulation of materials of 

 great value in improving the qualities of the soil, when 

 turned over, to say nothing of the beauty it adds to 

 the landscape, or the firmness it gives to the surface of 

 the earth. 



II. The AQUATIC or WATER GRASSES form another 

 distinct group ; and among these are the 



Reed Canary Grass (Phalaris arundinacea). 

 Common Reed Grass (Phragmites communis). 

 Water Spear Grass ( Glyceria aquatica). 

 Common Manna Grass (Glyceria fluitans). 

 Rice Grass (Leersia oryzoides). 

 Floating Foxtail (Alopecurus geniculatus). 

 Wild Rice (Zizania aquatica). 



These grasses grow mostly in water, and are not culti- 

 vated with us as agricultural grasses, with the exception, 

 perhaps, of the first. Wild rice grass is sometimes cul- 

 tivated, and yields large crops at the South, and floating 

 foxtail in Europe. 



III. M.4RSH or SALT GRASSES, among which we have 

 Salt Reed Grass (Spartina polystachya). 



Rush Salt Grass (Spartina juncea). 

 Salt Marsh Grass (Spartina stricta). 

 Black Grass (Juncus bulbosus). 

 Beach Grass (Ammopliila arundinacea). 

 Goose Grass ( Glyceria maritima). 



IV. FIELD or PASTURE GRASSES. Under this head 

 may be included a very large number of species, all of 

 which have been described above. They might be sub- 

 divided according to the soils and situations which they 

 naturally affect ; for, though a grass may sometimes be 



