93 



It is an old tradition, which some farmers still cling to, that chess 

 is a degenerated wheat ; that the action of frost and other causes 

 occasion the deterioration, whereas the truth undoubtedly is that 

 chess seed was either in the land or in the seed sown, and being 

 more hardy than wheat it survived the frost and took possession of 

 the ground. Some years ago this grass had a temporary popularity 

 under the name of Willard's Brome grass, but it was soon aban- 

 doned when brought into competition with better grasses. 



It has a stout upright culm, 2 to 3 feet high, the panicle being 

 from 4: to 6 inches long, rather spreading, and the large spikelets 

 somewhat drooping when ripe. Usually there are three to five 

 branches at each joint of the panicle ; these branches are of differ- 

 ent lengths, from half inch to 2 inches, and each with one to. three 

 spikelets. The spikelets are usually from five to ten flowered ; the 

 glumes unequal, nerved, shorter than the flowers ; the flowering 

 glume is convex or compressed, keeled on the back, witli an awn 

 variable in length from below the point. 



In the South it would perhaps be a good winter grass, like its- 

 relative Bromus unioloides, but it is not as vigorous a grass as that 

 species, and does not produce such an abundance of foliage. 



18. B. segetum, ScM. Introduced in California. 



19. B. sterilis, Linn. Introduced from Europe. 



20. B. squarrosus, Linn. Introduced from Europe. 



21 . B. subulatus, Led. ■ Alaska. 



22. B. Suksdorfii, Vasey. Oregon and Washington. 



23. B. tectornm, Linn. Introduced from Europe. 



24. B. unioloides, Willd. Schrader's grass, Kescue grass. Texas- 



to Arizona. 



This is one of the so-called winter grasses ; that is, it makes in 

 the South a large share of its growth during the winter months. It 

 belongs to the chess or cheat family. In its early' growth it spreads 

 and produces a large amount of leaves ; early in the spring it sends 

 up its flower stalks, which grow about 3 feet high, with a large,, 

 open, spreading panicle, the ends of the branchlets bearing the large 

 flattened spikelets, which, when mature, hang gracefully upon their 

 stems, giving them quite an ornamental appearance. . These spike- 

 lets are from 1 inch to 1£ inches in length, and composed of two 

 acute lanceolate glumes at the base, and from seven to ten flowers 

 arranged in two rows alternate on each side of the axis. The flow- 



