80 BRITISH GRASSES. 



have the most striking effect when placed on a raised 

 border, so as to bring the plant nearly to a level with 

 the eye. 



The Spartina cynosuroides is a tall, slender grass, 

 with a panicle a foot long, bearing spikes two inches in 

 length, placed alternately along the rachis, the spikelets 

 unilateral. The leaves are very long and linear, termi- 

 nating in a slender point ; the highest sheath is also very 

 long. It is a native of North America, and very hardy. 

 In the Kew Gardens it attains a height of from four to 

 five feet. 



Set aria macrochceta is a native of the south of Europe. 

 It has a compound, erect spike or panicle, the spikelets 

 arranged in remote groups. It grows two feet high, 

 and flowers in July and August. 



The Festuca group contains species as desirable for 

 ornamental as for agricultural purposes. F. glauca is a 

 perennial grass, a native of the south of Europe, where 

 it grows as a weed on the seacoast. The panicle is one- 

 sided, spikelets contain five florets, and are slightly 

 awned. The leaves are glaucous, rigid, and oval-shaped. 

 It grows from one to two feet high, and from the glau- 

 cous colour of its foliage is very popular for edgings, and 

 is also highly recommended for pot culture. 



Our familiar native, Festuca ovina, is much valued for 

 horticultural purposes. It may compete with dwarf Box 

 as an edging, with every hope of success. The seeds 

 should be sown in a bed, and the young plants placed 

 three inches apart along the line required. Soon the 

 leaves become tufted, and the tufts join together. The 

 border is very easily kept tidy by cutting off the culms 

 as they rise ; the foliage is so short by nature as not to 

 require cutting. 



