C5UA.SSES FOR CULTIVATION. 101 



host of soede wlnrh mlhcro to their touts, or which they luivc 

 awallowed and drop uninjured upon the soil." — (Prof. A. N. 

 Prentiss, in Pri .0 Essay.) 



A few examph's may be piven to illustrate the distribution of 

 grass seeds. The panicles of /'(itiirmti rnpilhnt, when ripe, 

 easily 8ei)arate ironi the eulin and are freelv tossed about and 

 carried by the wind, scattering seeds as they go for long <listances, 

 even leaping over fences and bushes. 



When snow arrives its surface becomes slightly packed, and 

 seeds, with their chaff or branches still left on the dead culms, 

 are occasionally torn awav and drifted for long distances before 

 the wind. 



Small seeds in the mud adhere to the feet of many kinds of 

 animals, and are thenco rr.nsported from one i)lace to another. 



The elongating and spreading root-stalks of some grasses and 

 clovers enable them to spread and occupy ditferent ground or 

 more ground. 



The chapter on the geographical distribution of grasses will be 

 giyeu in the second volume. 



CHAPTER VI. 



GRASSES FOR CULTIVATION. 



PIILEUM, L. TIMOTHY. 



Spikelets in spike-like panicles, 1-flowered, rachilla very short 

 and jointed above the empty glumes, extending beyond the iloret, 

 rarely bearing a rudimentary flower. Flower perfect. The 

 empty glumes persistent, nearly erpial, membranous, much com- 

 pressed laterally, keeled, awned, or mucronate. Floral glume 

 much shorter, broader, hyaline, truncate or toothed, 3-r)-nerved. 

 Palea narrow, hyaline. Lodicules 2, hyaline, toothed on the 

 outer margins. Stamens 3. Styles distinct, long, slender, hairy. 

 Caryopsis ovoid, enclosed in the floral glume, and palea, free. 



