p. IMJATKNSIS. L, JUNE (JKAHS. l;{;{ 



smooth, ivroio. fjOiivos narrov/, keeled, tip closed, li<riilc 

 short, obiusc. Puiiific ])\ raiiiichil, )!-'.] iiiclics l(tll;^^ w'th sieiidcr, 

 siinadiiii;: l)r:iMch<'s. .".-o-nalc Spikcli-ls ovale or dliloiii,', ;{-■"»- 

 llowered. IHoral ;i;.liiiiie silkv-hairy on llie l<eel. .'.-nerved. See 



Ki-. :.i. 



Tliis is <iiie i»r the most eoininoii and niosl nsel'iil yi-.-isses in the 

 ^■()rtllenl temperate /(»ne; especially vaiiiahle in N'ni'ili America 

 I'oi' lawns and permaiieni j.astnres. 



It is not so lii<,r|ily esteemed in (Ireal Kritaiii as in t liis connlrv, 

 as tlieri> it is olijecteij tnon acconnt. of exclndiiii,' other j^rasscs 

 which ;ire considered more valaahle in th-it climale. It, is foiunl 

 also ill .'vsia and Australia, varying' consideralil v in size and 

 appearance. 



.hine n-rass varies in iieiirht, from a I'ew iiwhes to a foo;. and 

 in rich <;foniHl. wiu're the .stems have not yet heconie crowded, 

 samples may he round which exceed four feel. It. is iioled for 

 root stocks which spread raj.idlyand lill t he _i;roiind Me;ii' I he sur- 

 face witli a, close n\i[l of lurt, niMcii like <piack grass. Tins 

 Jiiiikes the uf;iss very leiiacions and liai'd lo kill, especiallv in 

 nH)ist, land or in wet seasons when the land is used for a hoed 

 crop. The crowding:: <d" Ihcse rooi slocks weakens t he stems ahove 

 jiroimd and soon a larue amonnt of vep'talile mat ter accumulates 

 near I he siii'face. 



It llowi'rs ahont the same time as the eai-liest, rc(| clover and 

 orchard <;-rass, ami nearly all eoiiu's on at once. The .seed soon 

 malnri's, mid, unlike /^on coinprrssit ami I'oa rro/i/K/, (he culms 

 soon I urn ytdlow and die, and ihe leaves licconn^ fechhi or iicrish. 



Il llowi'rs hilt, once a year. Tim leases are slender and when 

 dry fold n[» like llm two halves of a Ixxdv when closed. 



As slock feed oil" (he leaves,many of Ihem, and some new one.s, 

 continue to (don^at hy <,M'owlh at (lu> has(i (»f (he hlad(( iH'ar (he 

 a[»ex of (hesheadi.' Tht^ apex of (he l)lade is ( he uhh^st por( ion ; 

 (he hasi! ( he voun"est. 



