80 



May and the first part of June, after which they gradually go 

 to seed. But before they have waned enough to permit much 

 relief to hayfever sufferers timothy and red top take their place 

 as pollen distributers. Starting during the last week in June, 

 they reach their maxima early in July, begin to set their seed 

 toward the middle of July and before the end of the month 

 their pollen ceases to trouble the hayfever patient. 



These five grasses, sweet-vernal grass, June grass, orchard 

 grass, timothy and red top, probably account for nearly all the 

 grass hayfever in the northeastern states, but there are a few 

 others which, even though by comparison with these are of only 

 secondary importance, deserve consideration. For example there 

 is the red fescue which comes into flower at about the same time 

 as June grass. It is a tough wiry little plant, unlike June grass, 

 not at all particular where it grows; it is characteristic of dry 

 sandy hills and impoverished soils. I have seen it in what ap- 

 peared to be nothing but ashes seeming to rejoice in the total 

 absence of competition. Then there is meadow fescue which is 

 somewhat similar in appearance but grows only in rich moist 

 meadows. Both these and some of the other species of fescue 

 are prolific pollen shedders and would undoubtedly rank among 

 the grasses of first importance in hayfever if they were more 

 abundant. To this list should also be added quack grass, abun- 

 dant enough it is true, but only a weak pollen shedder, the darnel 

 and perennial rye grass which rank high as pollen producers 

 but in most places not abundant enough to be very important. 

 And there are many others still less important for, as we have 

 seen, grasses are all grasses to the hayfever patient, their im- 

 portance being conditioned by their abundance and their pro- 

 pensities for producing pollen. Each one helps the other in 

 making life miserable for the hayfever sufferer and so much 

 mixed up are they that the victim is at a loss to tell just where 

 to put the blame. 



English plantain (Plantago lanceolata) is a lone invader 

 among hayfever plants. It sheds large quantities of light pollen 

 during the latter half of May and most of June, continuing right 

 to the end of summer in reduced amounts. Its pollen does not 

 interreact with that of the grasses. That is to say, a patient may 

 be highly sensitive to the pollen of grasses and not respond in 

 the slightest degree to that of plantain, and vice versa. English 



