a\' 



176 



s> tile 



r 



This and the foregoing species are strictly annual plants. From the ahove detail 

 nutritive powers of the herbage they produce is very inconsiderable. The Panicum sanguinaL 

 produces much seed, of which birds are very fond, and requires to be protected by nets, or other- 



wise, during the time of ripening. The smaller birds pick out the ripe seed, even when only a 

 small quantity is formed among the blossoms. Schreber informs us, the seeds are not only col- 

 lected from this grass, which is cultivated in some parts of Germany for the purpose, ])ut like- 



flote fescue. The common method of collecting and prepari 



^ 



ng 



them is this: At sun-rise they are gathered or beaten into a hair sieve from the dewy grass; 



a sheet, and dried for a fortnight in the sun ; they are then gently beaten with i 



are s 



pread 



wooden pestle in a wooden trough or mortar, with straw laid between the Seeds and the pestle, 

 till the chaff comes off; they are then winnowed. After this they are again put into the trough 

 or mortar, in rows, with dried marigold flowers, apple, and hazel leaves, and pounded till they 

 appear bright ; they are then winnowed again, and being made perfectly clean by this last pro- 

 cess, are fit for use. The marigold leaves are added to give the seed a finer colour. A bushel 



with 



Wh 



wme 



of sago, to which it is in general preferred"^. Miss Jennings observes, that all the stems that lie 

 nearest the ground strike root, and by this means, though an annual and short-lived plant, it 

 increases and spreads very wide in one seasonl*. It should be sown as soon as the seed is ripe 

 in the autumn, that the young plants may have sufficient strength before the winter begins; by 

 this mode of culture, it will flower and ripen the seed much earlier than the time specified he- 

 low ; in that instance the seeds were sown in May. 



It delights most in a rich light siliceous soil. It is said to have received the name sanguinale, 

 not from its colour, but from a mischievous trick of boys in Germany, thrusting the spiketsup 



w 



the noses of their companions, thereby making them bleed. 



It flowers about the first week of August, and the seed is rfpe in the middle of September, 



Sromus sterilis. 



Barren Brome-grass 



Specific 



I 



spear 



After flower 



Obs. 



ing, the florets stand somewhat remote; the spikets compressed, broad upwards, awned. 



Culms from one to two feet high, according to the nature of the soil; upright, roundish 

 and smooth, at the bottom crooked, the joints swelled. Leaves flat, both they and the 

 culms covered with short soft hairs; sheath scale short, obtuse. Panicle large, nodding, 

 half a foot long. Spikets naked, rough, varying from a green to a purple colour, larger 

 valve with an awn twice its length; straight, of a purple colour towards the top. E. Bot. 



Native of Britain. Root annual. 



With 



V 



* As quoted J)y Professor Martjn. 



f Withering. 



