12 THE GRASSES 



In the limits of this work it would be impossible to give 

 a full discription of all known graminese, so those will be 

 considered only that are indigenous or acclimated to the 

 soils of Tennessee, and especial attention will be given to 

 the proper application of the grasses as adapted to the 

 differing soils of the State. For our botanic descriptions 

 we will, for sufficient reasons, follow those laid down by 

 Dr. Gray in his standard work on botany. 



But it is not our intention to describe them under the 

 scientific arrangement adopted by all writers on the subject 

 into orders, genera and species, for this book is not intended 

 as a purely scientific work, but rather as a practical hand- 

 book for farmers. Hence, although the botanical names 

 will in each species be given, they will be treated under a 

 practical head. Therefore, all grasses will be classified as : 



1st. Meadow, or hay grasses. 



2nd. Pasture, or grazing grasses. 



3rcL Wild, or grasses of no known agricultural value. 



4th. Cereals. 



The term wild is not to be taken in a literal sense, for 

 many of them will grow on spots too rocky, sandy or barren 

 to produce other kinds, and they serve a useful purpose in 

 many ways. Sheep and goats will eat many of the wild 

 grasses rejected by horses or cattle, and all furnish seeds to 

 feed the feathered denizens of the air ; besides, they assist in 

 pulverizing the soil, disintegrating rocks, promoting mois- 

 ture, beautifying the earth with a carpet of living green 

 and in their death leave a rich legacy of fertility to the 

 soil. 



There is an innate love of the beautiful in man, and 

 many who turn in disgust from the most fragrant exotics 

 will contemplate with great satisfaction the little spot of 

 verdure at their door-stoop. 



These grasses perform important functions in nature ; 

 extracting saline matters from the rocks, nitrogen and car- 

 bon from the soil, ammonia, oxygen and hydrogen from the 



