28 ON THE CULTIVATED GRASSES 



a considerable portion of the natural pasture ; but does not thrive well on dry soils. 

 Makes excellent hay, and though a large plant, the leaves of the herbage are succulent 

 and tender, and apparently much liked by cattle, as they never form rank tufts, as is the 

 case with the larger grasses. {See illiisU-ation facing page 28.) 



22. Festuca rubra {Reef, or Creeping Fescue). — Fr. Fetuque rouge ; Ger. Rotlier 

 Schwingcl. — This is considered by some as merely a variety of the F. dii?iiiscula, slightly 

 altered in habit, from growing always on light dry sandy soils. It is distinguished, how- 

 ever, by its creeping roots, broader and generally darker-coloured foliage, and producing 

 a smaller number of stems. From its creeping-rooted habit, it is comparatively of little 

 use to the agriculturist, except for sowing on light sandy sea coasts, after the shifting sand 

 has been partially consolidated, and on the slopes of railway cuttings and embankments, 

 where the soil is dry. 



23. Holcus lanatus ( IVooIly Soft Grass, Meadow Soft Grass, or Yorkshire Fog). — 

 Fr. Houque laincusc ; Ger. Honiggras. — Leaves downy ; root fibrous, perennial ; height 

 one to two feet ; flowers in June and July. Grows naturally on inferior light soils, and 

 particularly on such as have a little peat in their composition, and are of a dampish 

 nature. The H. lanatus is very productive and easy of cultivation, but is of little value 

 for either hay or pasture. It yields a large bulk of aftermath, which, however, is not 

 liked by cattle, either in a green state or when made into hay, owing, it is supposed, to its 

 soft spongy nature, and from not having a sufficiency of a sub-acid or saline taste, its 

 nutritive matter, according to Sir Humphrey Dav)', consisting entirely of mucilage and 

 sugar. This property may in sOme degree be overcome by sprinkling a little salt over it 

 when stacking, or before giving it to cattle. \\^here the soil is fitted for other grasses, H. 

 lanatus can only be considered as a troublesome weed, and all means should be used for 

 its extirpation. This and the following species of Holcus are distinguished from all the 

 rest of our common grasses by the soft and woolly appearance of their panicles : those of 

 H lanatus assume a great variety of shades in colour, from a white to a beautiful red, but 

 generally on a whitish ground. {Sec illustration facing page 30.) 



24. Holcus mollis {Creeping Soft Grass, or Bearded Soft Grass). — Fr. Houque 

 molle ; Ger. Welches Honiggras. — Root perennial, creeping, sometimes from three to five 

 feet in length ; leaves pale green and roughish ; flowers in July. This is easily distin- 

 guished from the preceding species, by producing fewer culms, having looser panicles, 

 longer awns, broader foliage, and powerfully creeping roots ; grows naturally in a great 

 variety of soils, but principally in dry woods, bushy places, and waste ground. It is 

 possessed of no property to recommend it for cultivation, and can only be considered 

 useful for sowing in wooded and barren, dry, or gravelly grounds. Its creeping roots, 

 however, render it useful for fixing dry sandy slopes, railway embankments, &c. AVhere 

 it abounds naturally in good pastures it should be extirpated to make room for superior 

 sorts. 



25. Lolium itaUcum {Italian Rye Grass). — Fr. Raygras d' Italic; Ger. Italienisches 

 Raygras. — A fibrous-rooted grass, of biennial or triennial duration ; native of the south of 

 Europe ; flowers in May and June. Introduced by us from Italy in 1833. The most 

 marked distinction between this and L. perenne is in the lower pales being terminated by 

 an awn or beard, the varieties of the latter being all beardless. Botanists, however, agree 

 in concluding that the presence or absence of the awn in Graminea does not con- 

 stitute a sufficiently permanent character, from its being often caused merely by the 

 effects of climate, soil, &c. Hence it has been concluded, the Italian Rye Grass is 



