150 BRITISH GRASSES. 



tufted, free from hairs or bristles, spreading ; stem de- 

 cumbent and rooting, throwing out long procumbent 

 stolons, which take root at their joints. Outer glumes 

 downy. This variety prevails much in moist meadows 

 and pastures, and more especially in stiff clayey lands, 

 where it becomes a great nuisance to the farmer, for 

 when the land is broken up and fallowed, the roots hold 

 the stiff clods together and materially increase the diffi- 

 culty of breaking them up. Sir J. E. Smith records 

 this evil habit of the variety stolonifera, but the Rev. W. 

 Richardson [has since come to its rescue, and claimed 

 good agricultural qualities for it. , Mr. Richardson took 

 great pains in cultivating this "Fiorin grass " and re- 

 commended it especially for damp clay soils, where its 

 creeping habits secure it quickly covering the land. 

 Mixed with other grasses, Mr. Sinclair recommends it 

 as valuable for late pasture, the other grasses shelter it 

 in spring, and as their flowering-time passes and they 

 decline in quantity, it fills their vacated space. But its 

 greatest productive powers are developed when cultivated 

 alone, and kept clear of weeds. Some have supposed 

 this to be the famous Orcheston grass. A. alba, var. 

 stolonifera, is called Black Squitch in some counties. 



Var. palustris has fewer branches, but larger spikelets. 

 Its flowering glume is its most distinctive feature, being 

 adorned with a short horn-like awn springing from the 

 keel not far from the apex, and scarcely reaching beyond 

 it. It grows in damp stagnant places. 



Var. pumila. This is a minute plant, only two or 

 three inches high ; stems procumbent at first, then as- 

 cending ; the ligule short and blunt ; and panicle lean- 

 ing to one side. This variety is always found in stony 

 alpine situations, and it is highly probable that its 



