354 



NATURE-STUDY 



in a ncigliborhood. It will sliow tlic great variety there is. 

 In the mea(lo\\s and pastures arc June grass, timothy, red 



to]), bent grass, blue joint, and 

 on the western prairies the buf- 

 falo grass, all valuable fodder. 

 ^Jillet is often so\\'n in the fields 

 for fodder. In our northern 

 swamps anfl lake and river bor- 

 ders is «'ild rice. Some grasses 

 are considered more as weeds: 

 Squirrel-tail, old-witch's grass, 

 wild rye, and sand bur are road- 

 side weeds. Pigeon grass, green 

 foxtail, and Cjuack grass are 

 common in the fields and else- 

 where. Barnyard grass is tall 

 and coarse, growing around 

 barnyards and rich, low places. 

 The lawns arc made unsightly 

 in midsummer by the low, 

 spreading crab grass. 



The cereals should be studied 

 from the botanical as well as 

 from the commercial standpoint. 

 Comjiarc them with the grasses 

 and it will be seen that they have the narrow, clasping 

 leaves, the hohow stems, the solid joints and, also, the flow- 

 ers of grasses. In fact they arc grasses, cultiwated for their 

 seeds. Even our Indian-corn or maize, sorghum, sugar 

 cane, and the bamboo are grasses. 



A good time to study grains is in the fall. It may be 



Fig. 148. Timothy Grass in Flower. 



