64 CREEPING SOFT GEASS. 



CHAPTER XXIT. 



CREEPIIv'G SOFT GEASS. 



Holcus Mollis. 



This grass is easily distinguished from liolcus lana- 

 by its producing fewer culms, having more loose 

 panicles, longer awns (hence it is sometimes termed 

 Bearded soft grass) broader foilage and powerfully 

 creeping roots, grows naturally in a great variety of 

 soils. These two species of Holcus are distinguished 

 from all the rest of our common grasses by the soft 

 and wooly appearance of their panicles, those of 

 Holcus Lanatus assume a great varieiy of shades in 

 color, from a white to a beautiful red, but generally 

 on a whitish like ground. These grasses are chiefly 

 used on sheep walks in England and are said to 

 answer well for that purpose. Flowers in July and 

 ripens seeds in August. 



CHAPTER XXIII. 



PISTE BEISTT GEASS, RED TOP, FINE TOP, BURDEN 

 GEASS, heed's grass OF PENNSYLVANIA AND 



soyiTiERx States. 



{Agrostls Vwlgar is)— Specific Gharacter. 



Rootstocks creeping ; culm mostly upright (1 to 

 2 feet high) ; panicle oblong with spreading slightly 

 rough short branches, (purple) ; leaves linear, flat ; 

 ligule very short, truncate ; lower palet nearly 



