43 



which, therefore, gives a far nicer aspect to the lawn and makes 

 this latter more recommendable for that purpose. 



Aira caespitosa (Tufted Hair-grass). A tall meadow-grass, 

 growing from 40 to 50 inches, forming wide tufts and found on 

 marshy, boggy soils. It is of no agricultural value and must, there- 

 fore, be considered more like a weed-grass, as it has the bad habit 

 of spreading in soils described above very rashly indeed, pushing 

 away and taking the place of the more valuable varieties, which 

 are not such vigorous growers. It should, therefore, never be used 

 in pasture-mixtures. 



It is being used as a component in cheap lawn-mixtures to which 

 not too great exigencies are being put. However, even there, it 

 should not be used. The fact, that it is too high-growing a variety 

 with far from narrow leaves, makes it less suitable for that pur- 

 pose. Only the fact of its being a cheap grass, could therefore be 

 an argument for its use. But even this cannot be called a sound 

 argument, since there are other varieties answering the purpose 

 better which are not dearer. 



Aira flexnosa {Wavy Mountain Hair-grass). Another variety 

 of no agricultural value, occurring in woods, especially fir-woods, 

 and producing plants of from 20 to 25 inches in height. It is of 

 a tuft-forming character, not rich in foliage, but as its blades are 

 rather narrow, it comes in handy for cheap lawn-mixtures. It 

 should, however, not be used In too large a proportion and by 

 preference under trees only. The stems tend to go yellowish very 

 soon after they have reached their full height, and the grass should 

 therefore be kept short to see the green shade maintained. 



Alopecnrns pratensis {Meadow Foxtail-grass). One of the 

 most valuable varieties for permanent pasture. It is an even tuft- 

 forming upper-grass, growing from 35 to 45 inches, of great 

 nutritive value and well-liked by all sorts of stock. It requires a 

 moist soil, by preference heavy clay; is seen most of all on the 

 slopes of ditches and prefers such tracts of land, bordering on 

 rivers, which, during winter-time overflow their banks, inundate 

 the neighboring fields and leave there their fertile deposits. 



It is one of the earliest varieties, producing abundant foliage, 

 and as it develops very quickly indeed, it produces a good quantity 

 of grass at a time when the majority of the other grasses are 



