CHAPTER XL. 



COMMON GRASSES OF THE FARM. 



I. The Order of Grasses includes a total of over 3000 species, 

 of which about 130 or 140 are represented in the British 

 Flora. Many of the species indigenous to this 

 country are comparatively rare and without any 

 practical importance to the farmer. The chief 

 grasses, however, which are met with in most of 

 the best pastures and meadows are described 

 below, and a brief mention is also made of those 

 which require attention on account of their dele- 

 terious nature as weeds or because of their general 

 distribution. 



Genus Anthoxanthum. 

 Panicle spike-like ; spikelets one-flowered, flowers 

 protogynous ; four empty glumes, two lowest un- 

 equal, smooth, both others covered with chestnut 

 or dark brown hairs ; one of them also bears a 

 long bent, twisted dorsal awn, the other a short, 

 straight awn ; flowering glume and pale, awnless, 

 short ; stamens two. 

 Fig. 171. Sweet Vernal-Grass {^Anthoxanthum odoratum 



panicle ^of 'swcet L.). — A fibrous-rootcd perennial, growing about a 

 uraTsize."^^,' Base foot high, and usually prcscnt in pastures and 

 Uguie.'' c^jpikekt meadows upon all kinds of soils. It is one of the 

 (twice natura size). g^fUgg). gjasses, oftcn Commencing to grow rapidly 

 in February and March, reaching the flowering stage before the 



