I06 PROCEEDINGS MANCHESTER INSTITUTE 



*7 Aiiimopliila ariincliiiacea^ Hots. 



In Hudson near the bridge at Taylor's falls there was formerly a tract of sev- 

 eral acres of fine sand, called locally the "great desert." During the prevalence 

 of northwest winds this sand drifted in such quantities as to block the road and 

 seriously impede travel, and also to damage the cultivated fields to the south- 

 ward. About sixty years ago attempts were made by the town authorities to 

 check the evil. A fence was built on the north side of the road and a row of wil- 

 ■ lows planted on both sides. These means not proving effectual a few years later 

 some persons were authorized by the town to procure this grass from the seashore 

 and a quantity of it was sown or planted on the tract. In the course of time the 

 grass covered the ground to such an extent as to check the drifting sand and 

 make the reclamation of the tract comparatively easy. A large part of the land 

 has been sold for house lots and the " great desert " will soon be obliterated by 

 the eastward growth of this pleasant suburb of Nashua. 



*8 Trioclia seslerioides, ( Michx.) Benth. 



This hatrdsome grass was found growing abundantly in the vicinity of a grist 

 mill in Pelham. It had the appearance of being perfectly at home, and if intro- 

 duced, which is altogether probable, must have persisted for a number of years. 



[ See also Rhodora, i. 67, concerning a Connecticut station of this species.] ' 



*9 Glyceria Iborealis. 



This northern grass appears to be well distinguished from its southern ally, 

 G. fliiitans, by the viore erect culms, narrower leaves, m'enibraiious ligule, narrower 

 panicle with inore appressed branches and spikelets and meinbranotis Jlmvering scales 

 with hispidulous nerves. 



It liere receives for the first time its proper designation as a Glyceria. 



*io Sisyrinclimm. 



There are at least three well marked forms in our area. The genus is at pres- 

 ent undergoing critical study and revision, and observers are advised to be on the 

 lookout for hitherto undescribed forms. 



*ii Spiraiitlies cerniia, Richard. 



. The excessive drought of the season of 1899 prevented satisfactory observa- 

 tions of this species, the plants being very scarce and pooi'ly developed. In 

 Gray's Manual, 6th edition, the species is placed in the same section with S. lati- 

 folia and Romanzoffiana as having " the flowers in three ranks crowded in a close- 

 spike." In Britton & Brown's Illustrated Flora the description reads, " flowers 

 three-ranked — stems not twisted, or but slightly so," and under the species, 

 "flowers in three rows." Careful observation in our area shows that from thirty 



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