6S WHERE GUASSES (iROW. 



'• Of the individuiil jilaiits on tlu; gw.at pniirios of [\\v North- 

 w(!st, 00, yes, Ill» pel' cent are gnissesi" — (Seribner). 



'J'liero arc about 3U0 genera and .*{,10() to 15, 200 species. They 

 are tlu^ most abundant in the tcmi)erate zones, wliere they often 

 clotlu! lari,'e tratits with a growth Avliicli is iiiie, soft, atid thick. 

 Hero the rtxtci'tv ])redoniinate. In tlus tropics tlie Pnuivem are 

 proniineiil: niai.y of which are more isohited, growing singly in 

 \ ufts or snuill groups. In tlie temperate zones grasses are sleiulcr, 

 and seldom more than a few feet in height; in the tropics they 

 ])ec()me giant bamboos, dO or ev(!ii 170 feet liigli, and eight or ten 

 iiufhes in diameter, approaching a tree in size. 



In the T'nited States, east of the ]\Iississi])()i, the grasses con- 

 stitute al)out one t wclfth of all tlit^ species of llowering j)lants. 

 A State like ^Michigan. Illinois, oi- Massatdiusetts, has been found 

 to contain not far from 1150 sitecies of grass. It is not inujom- 

 mon in the noi'thern States to find 00 si)ecies within a distance of 

 a, few niik's of each other. 



Although very few grasses 2)0ssess brilliant or ai'omatic llowers, 

 and look so humble and so much alik(\ tliere are few ])lants 

 which ai'c more beautiful in "all stages of growth, whether 

 examined one liv one or ill masses; with the naked eye or with 

 the inicrosco|:)c."" — (American Agriculturist, i'T, ISf)'*.) 



Willi has not admired a gently rolling licld iis the wind swept 

 over t lu^ even tops of thick grain? What view surpasses a held 

 of waviny; 'M'ass, uv a closely shaven lawn!-' (irass is "a thing of 

 beauty and a joy forever." It even Ix^autilies tlu' grave, spread- 

 ing a green carpet over the reuuiins of friends gone before. 



•' llci'c I <-()iiic tTeepiii;i,', crecpiiii;' cNcrywhere; 



\\\ tlie rusty roadside, 



On llie sunny hillside. 



Close by the noisy brook, 



In evi'ry shady nook. 

 I come creeping, creejiin^ everywhere." — (Sariih Roberts.^ 



