CHAPTER III. 



WHICH DESCRIBES IN A POPULAR MANNER THE NATURAL AND 

 ARTIFICIAL GRASSES. 



THE following short descriptions of the different grasses recommended in the pre- 

 ceding Chapter have been appended, in the hope that the information therein 

 contained may be useful to cultivators who have not had opportunities of becom- 

 ing acquainted with their characters and qualities. 



As many botanical terms occur in the description of the different species and varieties 

 of grasses which may not be sufficiently understood by the agriculturist, we give at the 

 beginning of the book an engraving in which the various parts of a grass are shown 

 with their corresponding names. Considering, however, the popular character of this 

 Treatise, we have avoided the use of scientific terms where we could otherwise explain 

 the meaning with conciseness. JVe have added the French and German names of each 

 variety described. 



§ 1° THE NATURAL GRASSES DESCRIBED. 



1. Agrostis alba {Ftorm,or Marsh Bent-grass). — 'Ex. AgrosHde blanche; Gtr. Fiormgras. 

 — Root perennial, fibrous, grown in marshy or damp soils, but assuming more of a creeping 

 habit when growing on light dry soil ; height one foot to one and a half ; flowers 

 in July. There is a great number of varieties of A. alba, to several of which distinct 

 specific names have been applied : of these may be enumerated A. alba var. stolonifera, 

 stoloniferous bent-grass or florin ; A. latifolia, which seems to be the same ; A. com- 

 pressa, A. sylvatica, and others, which all seem to agree in acquiring a very stoloniferous 

 habit when growing in moist situations, but assuming more of a tufted habit on dry soils. 

 With the exception of A. stolonifera, none of the varieties are now of any importance in 

 commerce. It is not advisable to sow the florin on any other than a damp or irrigated 

 . peaty soil. (^See illustration facing page 2.) 



Agrostis stolonifera. — See Agrostis alba. 



2. Agrostis vulgaris (Common, or Creeping-rooted Bent, Purple Bent, also, Black 

 Switch, Squitch, Twitch, or Quick-grass). — Fr. Agrostide vulgaire; Ger. Gemeines Straussgras. 

 — -This grass is distinguished from the preceding and its varieties, by its more loose and 

 spreading panicles, and in the leaves of the sheath being smooth to the touch, whereas in 

 A. alba, the sheaths are rough, which may be distinctly felt by passing the flnger from 

 above downwards, although smooth in the opposite direction. It has creeping perennial 

 roots, and is mostly confined to dry soils by its less stoloniferous and more tufted habit 

 of growth. Usually considered as a troublesome weed in dry light soils ; and, from not 

 being liked by catde, commonly attracts attention only as being a useless grass, to be 



