118 



BRITISH GRASSES. 



the bronze and golden stars of the little Luzula prcecox, 

 the brilliancy of which heightens the rich effect of the 



quivering purple anthers. 

 The fragrance of the grass 

 is an additional attraction; 

 it vies with Woodruffe in 

 its pleasant odour, and is 

 generally allowed to be the 

 plant that gives the scent so 

 much appreciated in new- 

 made hay. This is hardly a 

 recommendation to those 

 subject to that very trying 

 disorder known as hay fever, 

 and which, even where only 

 of mild order, is so very 

 depressing in its effects. 

 The agriculturist looks with favour on the Sweet 

 Vernal-grass, because it is perennial, and thrives very 

 well amongst permanent mixed grasses. When in 

 flower, it is not a favourite with cattle. Sinclair tells 

 us that its latter math is much more valuable than its 

 spring produce. It begins to vegetate and throw up 

 culms early in spring, and continues doing so till the 

 end of autumn, when it is most prized. Its seed begins 

 to ripen in June. It is said to be very advantageous 

 in sheep pastures, improving the flavour of the mutton. 

 Not only is it the earliest of grasses, but it is one of the 

 most enduring. It produces but a small quantity of 

 herbage, but that little first appears when grass of any 

 kind is at the scarcest, and it continues to spring, in- 

 creasing its produce, till the autumn. All authorities 

 recommend it highly, in moderate quantity, for perma- 



