16 JOUENAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTUEAL SOCIETY. 



To the amateur the work necessary to the obtaining of such knowledge 

 may be a deterrent ; but the identification of grasses by their roots and 

 leaves is a fascinating study, and will well repay the labour involved. 

 And the moment the subject is taken up it is astonishing to find what a 

 number of minute variations there are, all of which assist the student to 

 determine the different species, and some of which indicate to the close 

 observer the cause of certain varieties preferring one soil more than 

 another. To give one instance only of this, I may point out that the 

 more developed the fibres of a root are the greater is its capacity for 

 withstanding drought. 



The roots of some grasses are stoloniferous or creeping, others are 

 bulbous, the bulb being the thickened base of the shoot, while in others 

 again the roots are thick and cordlike in texture. A great deal may also 

 be learnt from the colouration of the base of the shoots, which vary 

 from yellow and dark brown to red and red veins on a white sheath. 



Few people are aware of the remarkable differences in the leaves of 

 grasses, and of the wonderful beauty in the tracing of the veins ; yet 

 grass leaves differ in shape, size, colour, thickness, and hairiness, all of 

 which features are of great service in the identification of species. 



The plan of creating a lawn by the sowing of one kind of grass only 

 is never now adopted by a practical gardener. However suitable a 

 particular variety may be for the soil for which it is intended, it can never 

 give satisfaction alone, because there is no one grass in perfection all the 

 year round, and plants of the same grass generally remain isolated and 

 refuse to grow together. 



To the amateur the knowledge of the varieties of grasses specially 

 suitable for the formation of lawns is of the greatest importance ; a most 

 interesting article could be written on this subject alone. 



Perennial rye grass is probably still employed more largely than any other 

 grass. With the demand, however, for turf far finer in quality than was ever 

 thought of a few years ago, the use of perennial rye grass has diminished. 

 In addition to perennial rye grass, a few of the more important species 

 are : — Poa pratensis (Smooth-stalked Meadow Grass), Festuca rubra (Red 

 Fescue), Festuca duriuscula (Hard Fescue), Cynosurus cristatus (Crested 

 Dogstail), Festuca ovina (True Sheep's Fescue), Festuca ovina tenuifolia 

 (Fine-leaved Sheep's Fescue), Poa trivialis (Rough-stalked Meadow Grass), 

 Poa neriioralis (Wood Meadow Grass), and Achillea Millefolium (Yarrow 

 or Milfoil). 



Poa lyratensis : it may be said that it withstands drought and keeps a 

 beautiful colour throughout the summer. 



Festuca rubra is another variety which, on certain soils, proves quite 

 invaluable. Unlike Poa pratensis, however, it turns very brown in dry 

 weather when on a light soil. Perhaps it should be added that great care 

 should be taken in the purchasing of this seed, as, though entirely 

 distinct. Hard Fescue is constantly sold under the name of Festuca 

 rubra. 



Festuca duriusctda, or Hard Fescue, is probably better known to the 

 amateur than any other of the finer grasses. Nothing wears better, and 

 a proportion of this species may be safely included in every mixture. 



Cynosurus cristatus, or Crested Dogstail, is a variety which will always 



