GRASSES OF MINOR IMPORTANCE 95 



specific name means hairlike. The grass was so named 

 because of the delicate branches of the panicle. It has 

 also been called Agrostis vulgaris With., Agrostis alba var. 

 vulgaris (With.) Thurb. and Agrostis tenuis Sibth. 

 Carpet bent, the chief ingredient of South German 

 mixed bent, is Agrostis stolonifera L. Velvet bent is 

 Agrostis canina L. The seed of this is distinguished by 

 the absence of a palea and the presence of an awn on the 

 lemma. (See U. S. Dept. Agric. Bull. 692. The Agri- 

 cultural species of Bent Grasses.) 



RYE GRASSES 



The two rye grasses may be considered together as 

 they resemble each other closely, both botanically and 

 agriculturally. English rye grass appears to be the first 

 meadow or pasture grass brought into cultivation. 

 Previous to this time, the latter part of the 17th century, 

 only wild meadows and pastures were known, these re- 

 newing and maintaining themselves spontaneously. 

 Grasses were not sown, or if they sometimes were, it was 

 a mixture gathered from the wild grasses. English rye 

 grass is the first grass of which we have a record showing 

 that it was cultivated as a distinct species, the seed being 

 gathered and sown. The rye grasses, English and 

 Italian, occupy a prominent place in European agricul- 

 ture, having an importance far beyond that attained in 

 this country. This difference is to be accounted for 

 partly by. the difference in climate and partly by the 

 relatively higher cost and poorer quality of the seed in 

 this country. Where timothy thrives, it cannot be dis- 

 placed except by a grass distinctly better in some way. 



