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Glyceria fluitans (Floating Manna Grass). | 
Culms are usually 3 to 4 feet high, rather thick and succulent, and quite leafy. 
The leaves are 4 to 9 inches long, and 3 to 4 lines wide.~ The panicle is often a foot 
long, very narrow, the short distant branches mostly in twos or threes, 1 or 2 inches 
long, erect and close, each having usually two or four spikelets. The spikelets are 
half an inch to three-quarters of an inch in length, rather cylindrical and nearly of 
the same thickness throughout, seven to thirteen-flowered. 
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This species grows in shallow water on the margins of lakes, ponds, 
i and sluggish streams. 
| Hon. J. S. Gould says: 
i This grass is found growing in shallow water, overflowed meadows, and wet woods, 
but will bear cultivation on moderately dry grounds. Schreber says that it is culti- 
vated in several parts of Germany, for the sake of the seeds, which form the manna 
crop of the shops, and are considered a great delicacy in soups and gruels. When 
ground into meal they make bread, very little inferior to that made from wheat. In 
| Poland large quantities of the seed are obtained for culinary purposes. Al] granivor- 
i; ous birds are exceedingly fond of these seeds. Trout; and indeed most fish, are very 
4 fond of them; wherever it grows over the banks of streams the trout are always 
«found in great numbers waiting to catch every seed that falls. 
; There is a great difference of opinion among agricultural writers with respect to the 
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fondnesss of animals for the leaves and culms of this grass. We have often seen the 
HT ends of the leaves cropped by cattle, but have never seen the culms or root-leaves 
Ne | touched by them. On the other hand, reliable writers have asserted that cattle, 
horses, and swine were alike fond of it. ° 
Glyceria nervata (Nerved Meadow Grass). 
This is similar in appearance to the tall meadow grass, but is smaller, 
with a lighter panicle and smaller flowers. It has also much the same 
genera} range. It usually grows along the wet margins of streams and 
swamps. It is nutritious and might be advantageously mixed with 
other grasses in wet grounds. It is especially abundant in the Rocky 
Mountains. It is sometimes improperly called fowl meadow grass. 
i No attention has been given to its cultivation inthis country. In the 
| Woburn Agricultural Experiments conducted in England by the Duke 
A of Bedford, this grass was under trial, and was very highly esteemed. 
Bee Mr. Sinclair states that in February, 1814, after the severe winter pre- 
| ceding, this grass was perfectly green and succulent, while not one 
species of grass, out of nearly three hundred that grew around it re- 
mained in a healthy state, but were all inferior and more or less injured 
by the severity of the weather. The aftermath was found to be re- 
markably abundant and nutritive. Jt was found to be adapted to most 
} soils except such as were tenacious. Mr. Sinclair also said that further 
Hi experience in the cultivation of the grass enabled him to state that it 
ie possesses very valuable properties, and that it willbe found a valuable 
{h) ingredient in permanent pastures, where the soil is not too dry, but of a 
medium quality as to moisture and dryness. (Plate’80.) 
