38 BAMBOOS [CH. II 



rivers. Most of these Bamboos are xerophytes. Bamboos 

 are neither confined to the tropics, nor to warmer regions, 

 however, for species are known from distinctly cool regions 

 — e.g. South America — or even from near the snow line — 

 e.g. Chili, the Himalayas, Japan, &c., and the number of 

 species known as hardy is increasing annually, as is evident 

 on examining our larger English gardens. 



The permanence and character of extensive grass- 

 lands, especially prairies, savannahs, and steppes, are much 

 affected by the periodical firing they are exposed to in 

 the dry season, and large tracts of country in various parts 

 of the world would doubtless bear forests or other vege- 

 tation if not thus fired, while in other oases the herbage 

 would be differently constituted were firing discontinued. 



The following chapter embodies an attempt to classify 

 our Britis^h grasses solely for purposes of identification 

 when not in flower. It is not claimed that the arrange- 

 ment is the best possible, nor that it is complete, and 

 I need hardly say that corrections will be gratefully 

 received. 



