298 



EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN. 



^ ip< 



Fig. 15 (16). 



Squirrel-tail Grass. Hordeum jubatum L. 

 Other common names are Skunk Grass, Wild 

 Barley. A smooth, slender, tufted annual, 

 biennial or perennial, 30-45 cm. high. Spikes 

 4-7 cm. long" rachis very slender soon breaking 

 at each joint the": lower, portion of which is 

 barbed and sharp-pointed, making a formidable 

 weapon to pierce the gums of cattle and sheep. 

 The spikelets are three in a cluster: each with 

 two slender awns, 4-6 cm. long. Very graceful 

 and ornamental before the spikes break in 

 pieces. Native of this country and widely 

 aistributed. Fortunately seldom abundant 

 except on moist alkaline soil. It yields readily 

 to good cultivation. 



Fig. 16 (19). 



Low Spear Grass. Poa annua L. A soft, 

 smooth, light green annual, stems weak, com- 

 pressed, 5-30 cm. high. Panicle green or 

 purplish. This grass will produce three crops 

 a year in central Michigan Found almost 

 everywhere, in the vegetable garden and in a 

 dense lawn. The enterprise of this little grass 

 is equal to that of the English sparrow. In- 

 troduced from Europe. In shady places, 

 where well fertilized and watered it produces 

 a very pleasing lawn. 



