The Scottish Naturalist 



211 



now evident that it could not fully hold its own against others in 

 this struggle for existence. It could neither form a good bottom 

 sward, nor could it throw up leaves of ordinary dimensions. Its 

 aspect was that of a thin wiry plant. 



On the 5th September the shortest species were Reed Canary 

 Grass, Meadow Foxtail, Sheep's Fescue, and Crested Dog's-tail 

 Grass. The Foxtail forms a strong foundation, and the two last- 

 mentioned species showed their natural characteristics as low- 

 growing plants. Timothy Grass, which for a time had remained 

 in the background, had by this time formed bulbs at the roots, 

 and Smooth-stalked Meadow Grass had formed stolons. I found 

 that more progress was made by the Reed Canary Grass between 

 5th September and 9th October, probably because more moisture 

 was present than before. 



In 1887, while all the other grasses bore seeds in larger or 

 smaller quantity, the only advance perceptible in the species in 

 question consisted in the production of somewhat taller and 

 broader leaves. 



In 1888 it grew much taller, and a culm or two apparently 

 were formed. I had hoped to see at least one appear above the 

 enclosing sheath; but a storm early in October cut the grass 

 down. In the present year it has surmounted all its difficulties, 

 and has produced a full crop of leaves and some flower-heads. 

 It may be noticed that each autumn all the leaves died down, so 

 that none could be seen above the surface of the soil in winter. 



An interesting example of the growth of one year being con- 

 tinued into another came under my notice this summer. After 

 the crop of Rye Grass was cut last year an aftermath began to 

 grow. This remained green during the winter, and produced the 

 flower-stalks of this season's crop. 



I believe that from the above observations on the Reed Canary 

 Grass certain interesting lessons may be drawn regarding the de- 

 velopment of plants. It appears that for a certain time after 

 germination the material stored up in the seed is sufficient to 

 allow of a certain amount of growth in all the twenty species of 

 grasses, independent of the nature of the soil in which they grew. 

 But after a certain stage is reached the nature of the soil makes 

 itself felt, and impresses a consequent diversity of progress on the 

 different species. 



In the development of the Reed Canary Grass in my experi- 



