194 THE GKASSES OP TENNESSEE. 



the family of wheat, and it has been argued by some, that 

 it hybridrizes with wheat, and by others, that it is the pa- 

 rent of wheat. From the large amount of salts in its com- 

 position, land that has been infested with it, produces won- 

 derfully large turnips. It is said, however, to impoverish 

 land, as to other crops. It exists principally in the North- 

 ern States, but has acquired a foot-hold in some sections, 

 being brought in with seed wheat, the seeds resembling 

 wheat exactly, except they are smaller. The heads are also 

 very much like the wheat heads. 



VELVET LAWN GRASS-MEADOW SOFT GRASS— {Hol- 

 ms lanatus.) 



Spikelets two flowered, jointed with the pedicels; glumes boat shaped, 

 membranaceous, enclosing, and exceeding the flowers; lower flower 

 perfect; its lower palea awnless and pointless; upper flower staminate 

 only, bearing a stout bent awn below the apex. Stamens three, grain 

 free, slightly grooved. It grows from one to two feet high; stem erect, 

 round; root fibrous, perennial; leaves four or five, with soft, downy 

 sheaths; upper sheath much longer than its leaf, inflated, ligule obtuse; 

 joints usually four, generally covered with soft, downy hairs, the points 

 of which are turned downwards; leaves pale greeen, flat, broad, acute, 

 soft on both sides, covered with delicate hairs. Inflorescence compound, 

 panicled, of a greenish, reddish or pinkish tinge; hairy glumes, oblong, 

 tipped with a minute bristle. Florets of two palets. Flowers in June. 



This is one of the most beautiful grasses we have, and 

 grows wild on swampy moist lands. It abounds on the 

 marshy flats of the Cumberland Mountains, but it is not of 

 such tempting relish that stock will not eat it ravenously. 

 It grows well in West Tennessee. 



As a grass for lawns, however, or yards, unless it is de- 

 sired to use them as pastures, it is unequalled, and is easily 

 propagated. It needs but to be sown slightly, and after- 

 wards will quickly sow itself. A yard turfed over with 

 this grass presents a most lovely appearance, and looks as 

 if spread with a velvet carpet. 



But, Mr. Gregory, of North Carolina, says: "It was 

 on my place 35 or 40 years ago when first bought, and is 



