THE GRAMINEiE. 



231 



Sweet-scented vernal Grass ( antlioxanthum odo- 

 ratumj. This is also an early-growing grass. 

 It grows readily in all soils and situations, in 

 bogs, in woods where there is little underwood, 

 in rich meadows, and in dry pastures. It is not 

 so productive as some of tlie other grasses ; yet 

 cattle are particularly fond of it. It is the only 

 one of the grasses which is odoriferous. The 

 agreeable scent of new made hay arises entirely 

 from this grass, hence its name of sweet-scented. 

 The green leaves, when slightly compressed or 

 bruised, readily impart this perfume to the fin- 

 gers, by which means the foliage maybe known. 

 It produces fewer seeds than most of the other 

 grasses ; and in certain localities, and especially 

 in dry seasons, the leaves are liable to blight, by 

 which they are changed to a yellow hue. 



Smooth-stalked meadow Grass (poapratensisj. 



Smooth-stallced meadow Grass. 



From a creeping root the foliage of this grass 

 begins to shoot and to assume a beautiful ver- 

 dure very early in spring. The seeds are borne 

 on a panicle of a light and graceful structure. 

 This grass delights in a rather dry situation, and 

 hence it keeps green in long-continued droughts 

 better than the other grasses, yet it will also 

 thrive in a moist locality. It is seen growing on 

 the top of a dry wall, and also flourishing in a 

 wet meadow. It only flowers once a-year, while 

 some of the other grasses are running to seed 

 very frequently; from this circumstance it is 

 well adapted for lawns, where smoothness and 

 uniformity of appearance are desired. In dry 

 soils this grass is apt to fall off in the quantity 

 of foliage ; and on the whole, is not reckoned a 

 very productive one to the agriculturist. 



Rmigh-stallced meadow Grass (poa trimalis). 

 In appearance this grass is very like the preced- 

 ing, yet there are some marked distinctions. The 

 poa pratensis has a smooth stalk, the trimalis a 

 rough one, which is very perceptible when the 

 latter is drawn across the fingers, and which 

 arises from a number of little sharp setse or 

 points, placed on the leaf. The trivialis has a 

 long-pointed membrane at the base of the leaf; 

 the pratensis a short blunt one. While the 



smooth-stalked meadow grass is found chiefly in 

 dry pastures, the rough-stalked principally occurs 

 in moist meadows, or on the edge of wet ditches. 

 It loves moisture and a sheltered situation; 

 hence, though there are few grasses more pro- 

 ductive, or better adapted for hay or pastm-age, 

 it is a tender grass, and liable to be injured by 

 severe cold or excessive drought. 



Crested Dog's-tail Grass (cynosurits cristatusj , 



d Crested Dog'a-tail Grass. b Meadow fescue Grass. 



This grass grows naturally in dry situations, and 

 wiU not thrive in meadows that are very wet. 

 It flowers about the middle of June. It pro- 

 duces but little foliage, and its stems are dry and 

 wiry. It is found abundantly in sheep pasture 

 grass, and those animals are said to relish it; but 

 other cattle are not fond of it ; and on the whole, 

 it is not a grass to be recommended for culture. 

 Meadow fescue Grass (festuca pratensis). 

 This in appearance and qualities nearly resembles 

 the ray grass, and indeed is reckoned by some 

 to have several superior qualifications. It is 

 larger and more productive in leaves; it is 

 strictly perennial; is very hardy, and will 

 thrive not only in very wet, but also in dry 

 ground. It produces numerous seeds, which are 

 easily collected, and which readily germinate 

 when sown. It is late of flowering, however, as 

 it does not put forth its panicle tiU the middle 

 of June. It differs from the tall fescne grass in 

 being of a much smoother and more succulent 

 quality. 



Ray or Rye Grass, darnel (lolium perenne). 

 This grass, originally brought from Norfolk, has 

 now obtained a universal celebrity as one of the 

 best of the cultivated grasses. It is peculiarly 

 adapted both for hay and pasture, especially in wet 

 or uncertain climates. It flowers in June; and if 

 cut in tills month it again flowers the same sea- 



