S48 



GRAMfNE/E 



Oats (Avena sativn), Bnrky (Hi/rdeiiin disiichuin and H. hexasli- 

 chu'iii). Rye {Secdle ceredle). Maize {Zea Mdys), Rice((9n':a saliva), 

 and various Millets, cultivated for the sake of their grain, arc the 

 most valuahle members of the Order trt mankmd ; while the 

 value of grasses as fodder for cattle is hardly second to that of 

 their corn for human food. 



Among the most esteemed fodder grasses are Rye-grass {Lnlium 

 perhine) and its variety, Italian Rye-grass {Lrdium perenne, var. 

 ildlicum), especially for hay ,; Cock's-foot grass {Ddclylis glomerdta) 

 and Timothy-grass {PhUiiin prateiise), especially for heavy or peaty 

 land ; the sweet-scented Vernal-grass {Antlioxdnihum odordluin) 

 which gives much of its delicious fragra'nce to new-mown hay ; 

 Poa prati'iisis for dry, sandy soils; P. 

 nciiiiirdlis, var. sempervirens, and P. 

 trividlis for permanent pasture ; and the 

 Fescues {Festi'ica dnriuscida and F. 

 ddlior) also for permanent pasture, and 

 F. rubra for sandy soils. Cattle are 

 very fond also of the Tussock-grass 

 {Ddclvlis cu-::pitdsa) of the Falkland 

 Islands, which has been introduced in 

 the Hebrides. 



Sugar is a general product of grasses, 

 and can be easHy tasted in spring if we 

 chew the stem 'of almost any meadow 

 grass. It is, however, chiefly manufac- 

 tured from the ^tems of the Sugar-cane 

 (Sdcchariiii! officindrnm), a native of south- 

 eastern Asia, now cultivated throughout 

 the tropics ; and, to a much smaller 

 extent, from those of the (^luinea Corn {Sorghum sacchavdtum'). In 

 eastern countries the Bamboos are used I^x numberless purposes 

 — houses, furniture, cordage, and even sjils of ships being made 

 from them. Alfaor Fsparto-grass(/l/rt(rr('t7;/oa Icnacissinia). a native 

 of northern Africa, is a valuable material for laper-making ; and 

 various Indian species of Andropngoii yield aromatic '' Grass 

 Oils," such as A'etivert, Lemon-grass, or Verbena, Cilronella, 

 and Geranium or Ginger-grass, which are largely used in 

 perfumery. 



The classification of grasses is a matter of great difficulty; 

 but the British species fall under eight tribes, which may be 

 grouped in two Sub-orders. 



Section of the frtiit of the Oat : 

 /, pericarp, or wall of the 

 ovary ; t, seed-co.jtg ; ti, albii- 

 nieii ; t, cotyledon ; g', plumule ; 

 r radicle. 



