THE NATURAL GRASSES DESCRIBED 23 



got quit of as soon as possible, more particularly as its creeping roots prove highly injurious 

 to the soil. However, notwithstanding its bad qualities, sheep are found to eat it, par- 

 ticularly in the winter months, and it is sometimes sown on bare gravelly places, where 

 the more valuable grasses will not grow, for the purpose of covering them with vegetation. 

 3. Aira caespitosa {Tufted Hair-grass). — Fr. Caclte touffue; Ger. Rasenschmicle. 

 — Leaves long and flat ; root fibrous, perennial ; height four feet ; flowers in the beginning 

 of August. Grows naturally on rather superior marshy or damp soils, forming large tufts 

 or hassocks, as they are sometimes termed; and as the grass, from its coarse, wiry, 

 and harsh nature, is seldom eaten by domestic animals, it becomes the business of the 

 farmer to extirpate it as soon as possible, not only on account of its unsightly appearance, 

 but because it occupies a considerable portion of the soil which would otherwise be 

 capable of producing more valuable grasses, particularly as it is generally most predominant 

 on the best soils. The A. ccespitosa may, however, be advantageously sown as a cover for 

 game, especially rabbits and hares, and, in the neighbourhood of ponds and marshes, for 

 snipes and other fowl which frequent those places. 



4. Alopeourus agrestis [Slender, or Field Fox-tail-grass, known also as Black Bent). 

 — Fr. Vulpin des champs ; Ger. Acker-Fuchsschwanz. — Root fibrous, of biennial duration ; 

 flowers in July and August. This grass is generally termed an annual, but it will flower 

 and last two seasons on a light dry soil. It is of comparaf-tively little importance to the 

 agriculturist, and is often very troublesome among wheat. It is, however, useful for 

 sowing along with some others on light sandy soils on the sea-coast, where it will grow 

 much better than any of the common rye-grasses. 



5. ^o-&QCVX\x&^r&%&a&\& (Meadow Fox-tail-grass). — Fr. Vulpin des pres ; Ger. Wiesen- 

 Fuchsschwanz. — Root fibrous, perennial ; flowers in May and beginning of June. This is 

 one of the earliest and best of pasture grasses, but not so well adapted for hay, as it 

 produces few stalks, which are sparingly furnished with leaves ; its root leaves are very 

 broad, long, soft, slender, and grow rapidly when cut or eaten down by live stock. Grows 

 naturally on rather superior soils of medium texture, and constitutes the greater portion of 

 many of the richer natural pastures of Britain. It requires two or three years after sowing 

 to arrive at full maturity, and, therefore, it is not suitable for alternate husbandry. 

 (See illustration facing page 4.) 



6. Ammophila arundinaoea (Sea-Reed, or Mat-grass). — Fr. Roseau des sables ; Ger. 

 Sandhafer. — Root creeping, perennial ; height one and a half to two feet ; flowers in July. 

 The ripe seed, in size and shape, resembles a grain of oats ; leaves involute, or rolled 

 inwards at the edges, of a light green colour, hard, sharp-pointed, and rather longer than 

 the culm. It is principally used, along with the Elymus arenarius, in fixing or consolidating 

 shifting sand, for which it is peculiarly adapted by its strong creeping roots, and hard 

 elastic foliage, and for preventing encroachments of the sea. 



7. Anthoxanthum odoratum (Sweet-scented Vernal Grass). — Fr. Flouve odorante ; 

 Ger. Gemeines Geruchgras. — Root fibrous, perennial ; height fifteen to eighteen inches ; 

 flowers in May. Grows naturally on dry pastures. This grass yields but a scanty portion 

 of herbage, and is not particularly relished by any kind of live-stock, except, perhaps, 

 sheep ; but cattle and horses do not refuse it when mixed with other grasses. Its chief 

 merits, in an agricultural point of view, are its early spring growth, and from its thrqjving 

 up its root-foliage and flower-stalks until late in autumn. It is remarkable for giving out 

 a pleasant sweet smell during the process of drying similar to that of the sweet-scented 

 woodruff; and it is to the presence of this grass that hay from natural meadows owes its 



