﻿GRASSES OF SCOTLAND. (55 



while the other side is visible. Calyx of two narrow acute mem- 

 branous glumes (Fig. 1), of equal lengths, without lateral ribs ; 

 the keel rough. Florets of two paleae (Fig. 2), the outer palea of 

 lowermost floret longer than the calyx, of an ovate lanceolate form, 

 obscurely five-ribbed, tipped with a short rough awn. Inner palea 

 membranous, pellucid, rather shorter than the outer palea, with the 

 margins minutely fringed. 



This is a most valuable grass for permanent pasture, but by 

 no means recommended for the purpose of hay, as the stems when 

 dry are hard and tough, containing but little nutritive matter at the 

 time the seed is ripe ; but during the time of flowering the grass is 

 succulent and tender, affording twice the quantity of nourishment 

 than at a more advanced stage, when it becomes the favourite food 

 of deer and sheep. It thrives better in tenacious elevated soils, than 

 in those of a drier or sandy nature, and in irrigated meadows at- 

 tains an unusual size. As cattle prefer the young leaves, the stems 

 remain untouched, and when dry assume an unsightly appearance in 

 pastures, lawns, and pleasure-grounds, where this grass generally 

 abounds. The stems are valuable for the manufacture of plat for 

 Leghorn hats and bonnets, and are said to be superior even to the 

 Italian straw. For this purpose they should be gathered in a green 

 state, about the time of flowering, and covered with boiling water for 

 ten minutes, afterwards spread out to bleach for eight days ; or they 

 may be placed in boiling water for one hour, afterwards spread out 

 and kept regularly moistened as they become dry for two days, then 

 place them in a close vessel, and subject them to the fumes of burn- 

 ing sulphur for two hours. Also, by immersing the stems for ten 

 minutes in a strong solution of acetic acid, then subjecting them to sul- 

 phurous acid gas, they become bleached in half-an hour. 



There are many species of grasses found in this country adapted 

 to supply fine and beautiful straw not inferior to that of Leghorn, viz. 

 Festuca ovina angustifolia, Festuca duriuscula, Nardus stricta, Poa 

 pratensis umbrosa, Hordeumpratense, Trisetumflavescens, Agrostis alba, 

 and Agrostis canina. 



Cynosurus cristatus is a common grass in Scotland, England, and 

 Ireland, in open pastures. Found also in Norway, S weden, Prussia, 



