COMMON CRAB SWEET-SCENTED VERNAL. 199 



CHAPTER XVII. 



COMMON CRAB GRASS PROLIFIC PANIC GRASS SWEET- 

 SCENTED VERNAL GRASS PAMPAS GRASS RAMIE 

 RIBBON GRASS CANARY GRASS FIORIN WHITE 

 CLOVER JAPAN CLOVER- HERDS GRASS ORCHARD 

 GRASS. 



COMMON CRAB GRASS.--(Pawcwm Sanguinale.) 



The history and uses of this native grass have been fully 

 given with the Meadow grasses, on page 101, to which the 

 reader is referred. 



PROLIFIC PANIC GRASS.-(Pamcwm proliferum.) 



Another species of above, differing only in having the culms 

 thickened, succulent, branched and bent, ascending from a procumbent 

 base, and spikelets appressed, lance oval, of a pale green color. Flint. 



It inhabits, as a general thing, river bottoms, though 

 sometimes appearing on dry hills. In its value as a graz- 

 ing grass it is almost identical with the preceding. Cattle 

 are fond of it, and it grows spontaneously. 



SWEET-SCENTED VERNAL G'RASS.-lAnthoxanthum od- 

 ratum.} 



Spikelets spreading, three flowered; lateral flowers neutral, with one 

 palea, hairy on the outside, and awned on the back; glumes thin acute, 

 keeled, the upper twice as long as the lower; seed ovate, adhering to 

 the palea enclosing it; root perennial. Flowers in May and June. 

 Stems from one and a half to two feet high Flint. 



This grass was introduced from Europe, and possesses 

 rather poor qualities as a pasture grass, as neither sheep nor 

 cattle relish it. It is early, however, and hardy. It is one 

 of the first as wel^ as one of the last grasses that appear. 

 Its nutritive qualities are said to exist to a much larger 

 extent in the fall than in the spring, and greater when cut 



