102 BRITISH GRASSES. 



ping its five feet. No Foxglove bells, nor purple and 

 white Campanula, nor gay Hedge Roses, coquette with 

 its trembling beauty here; its leaves and florets are very 

 pale, indeed, but they dance as gaily as in the sunshine, 

 though they have no more exhilarating music to inspirit 

 them than that made by the quivering of the Poplar 

 leaves. As long as the trees stand in close ranks, the 

 Spreading Millet has it all its own way; and during all 

 the summer months, its panicles either quiver with green 

 blossoms, or grow staid and calm under the burden of 

 numerous grains of seed, wrapped in their glossy cover- 

 ings. But cut the trees down, and see the change which 

 next summer makes in the Millet ! On the low ground, 

 where there is moisture enough to nourish its strength, 

 it grows tall and stately as before, and many an un- 

 looked-for plant springs up amongst it to keep it in 

 countenance, as it were, now that the shelter of the 

 clustering trees is gone; but, as the sun looks down 

 upon the opening florets, they blush under his beams, 

 and are soon green no longer, but glow with every tint 

 of violet. On the high ground, the delicate grass fares 

 worse ; there the Foxglove rises, and one or two other 

 plants that can stand exposure and a rocky soil, but the 

 Millet faints for shade and moisture, and not only loses 

 its fresh hue, but becomes so stunted in its growth that 

 you would hardly recognize your luxuriant friend of last 

 summer. 



This grass is of little or no value in agriculture ; its 

 slender culms, airy panicles, and scant foliage contain 

 little nutriment; but the feathered people of the woods 

 do not take things at our valuation, and the Millet is a 

 plant much respected by them. Its seeds are a little 

 harvest to them, all the more enjoyable for the pleasant 



