466 
The Natural History of British Grasses. 
AmmopJiila arundinacea — Sea-reed or mat weed. 
Elymns arenarius — Upright sea-lymc-grass. 
Spartina striata — Twin-spiked cord-grass, 
,, alternifolia — Many-spiked cord-grass. 
Poa procumhens — Procumbent sea meadow-grass. 
Marine grasses are for the most part exceedingly harsh, so 
that cattle cannot eat them ; but some of them have their uses in 
keeping together the loose sands of the sea-shore. This they do 
by their creeping rliizome* (underground stem), which, running 
in every direction, form a thick matting in the sand. It is on 
this account that the two first of the above-named are carefully 
preserved, not only on our own shores, but those of Holland, as 
a good natui'al safeguard against the encroachments of the sea. 
4. Meadow-Grasses. — By far the greater number of our British 
grasses may be arranged under this head. They are those which 
supply us with the hay store, as also pasture for cattle ; and as 
pastures occur over the country under the widely differing cir- 
cumstances of climate, elevation, soil, and modes of farming, a 
due and attentive study of the tribe should, upon examination 
of a district, enable us to arrive at facts with regard to the 
nature and value of any tract of ground with almost as much 
certainty as though we had resided upon the soil for some time, 
and had drawn our conclusions from what is called " practical 
experience ;" and yet after all, though the one Is termed " scien- 
tific" and the other "practical," tliey are equally the results of 
observation, and both constitute knowledge of a practical kind. 
But besides this, it becomes necessary to study the me*idow- 
grasses in order to enable us to bring about those changes which 
may result in the amelioration of property, and as we know the 
influence exercised by the circumstances just noted, so we may 
be enabled to decide as to the kinds of grasses to use in such 
cases as the laying down of new pastures ; and the method of ame- 
liorative, or otlicr culture to be adopted in that which already 
exists. Indeed, this is just as important in farming, unless it be 
empirical, as the understanding the anatomy of the animal frame 
before attempting to prescribe for its treatment under the many 
conditions in which it may be placed. 
Now, in order to enforce this argument, it will be well to 
glance at the distribution of our more common meadow-grasses 
under the following heads : — 
a. Upland pastures, thin soils. 
h. Poor stiff soils, " hungry clays." 
* A fpecinien of the rhizome (erroneously called the root) of Ammophila 
arundinacea, upwards of 30 feet iu length, was communicated to me by my friend 
and pupil, Mr. George Maw. 
