42 THE GRASSES— FIORIN. 



a much closer and larger panicle, with green or pale 

 flowers; the large glume minutely toothed all along its 

 hack ; the ligule long, narrow, and sharp. 



Dr. Steblee's view of it is that, if it has been grown 

 on a suitable soil, it will produce herbage of a succulent 

 nature which cattle eat with pleasure ; but if grown on 

 poor or dry ground, it will be avoided, as it becomes 

 hard and without flavour. It suits best on a light moist 

 soil ; also on peaty soils that have not been drained ; 

 also on wet clayey soils ; but does not succeed on dry 

 soils, especially if composed of compact clay, into whicli 

 its fine roots cannot penetrate. 



Professor Baldwin (Ireland) writes as follows : — 

 "riorin grass is extensively grown in Donegal. On 

 reclaimed moor and other deep land there it makes 

 most valuable permanent meadow. I speak of the true 

 Agrostis stolonifera, with which worthless and even 

 noxious plants are confounded." 



Chaeles Johnson says that the value of aU the 

 varieties of Agrostis alba depends upon the creeping 

 stems — which afford a heavy crop of hay late in the 

 year, and also supply leaves for early feeding. The 

 Fiorin of Nature's own planting flourishes in a rich 

 well-watered soil, and produces an almost miraculous 

 quantity of fodder ; but it is unreasonable to suppose 

 that, in the absence of such conditions, any parallel 

 success can attend its cultivation. The Creeping Bent 

 may be a useless weed — wiry, nearly leafless, and 

 unpalatable to cattle — or it may be succulent, abundant 

 in foliage, and as grateful to them as it is productive — 

 according to the soil and situation in which it finds 

 itself. The creeping runners, stems or stolons of this 

 and other grasses of similar habit, are highly nutritive. 



