AGEICULTUEAL GEASSES. 31 



fine in time for sowing. But for this grass alone it is worth a 

 strenuous effort to get the land into good order. 



The short, degenerated, truncate ligule, and the long, broad, 

 prominently veined leaves, together with the involute character 

 of the emerging leaf, distinguish this species in the absence of its 

 flowering spike. 



The experiments at Eothamstead and Kidmore prove that 

 nitrate of soda and mineral salts have a marvellous effect upon 

 the growth of Foxtail. It assimilates larger quantities of manure 

 than many other grasses, and differs from Cocksfoot in the fact 

 that the latter appears to benefit more from ammonia salts than 

 from nitrate of soda, whereas Foxtail does equally well with both. 



Most of the seed imported into England comes from Southern 

 Eussia. The German seed sold at Breslau is immature and 

 grows badly. Occasionally very fine samples are obtained from 

 Sweden, but the best seed of all is Dutch ; and although the most 

 careful botanist can detect no difference between the seed grown 

 in Holland and that obtained from other countries, the Dutch 

 seed produces a much more robust as well as an earlier plant. 



The botanical description and chemical analysis are given 

 on page 142, facing an illustration. 



AMMOPHILA AEUNDINACEA 

 {Sea Beed, or Mat Grass). 



An Act passed in the reign of Elizabeth, and renewed in the 

 reign of George 11., prohibited the pulling up or otherwise 

 destroying of this plant. Like Elymus a) enarius it is used for 

 fixing sand on the sea-coast, but it possesses no feeding value, and 

 is rejected by all herbivorous animals. The name of Mat Grass 

 arises from its being employed as a material for mats. It also 

 makes excellent thatch. The time of flowering is July. 



