The Natural HistovT/ of British Grasses. 471 
or these, the most mischievous — for all arc weeds in arable — 
are the couch tribe. These the farmer knows well how to cope 
with, and as this is the case, it is somewhat surpi-ising that there 
is so much couch to be got rid of everywhere ; tliis too often 
arises from the work being behind-hand, in which case the seed 
has often to be sown before the land is clean, and with couch a 
blade left here and there is quite sufficient to spread over a field 
in a short time. 
In the Cotteswold district, where all three of the creeping 
grasses are in abundance, a distinction is made in them by the 
farmer. For instance, the Iriticum repens is called Couch 
(coock^, whilst the Agrostis stohnifcra, and Poa compressa, are 
indifferently named S'juifch, or small couch. The two latter are 
held in such detestation by the farmer, that it is not at all un- 
common to hear him say that he would rather have " fine healthy 
couch to deal with," meaning T. repens, " than the nasty benty 
squitch." 
The Alopecurus agrestis is well known by the name of " black 
bent," and is sometimes a very troublesome weed, more especially 
in stiff infertile clays. The Lias Shales, in the Vale of Glou- 
cester, where unameliorated by drifts, are often full of it. The 
Forest Marble on the higher Cotteswolds has also a great abund- 
ance. It is in all cases an evidence of poor plastic soil, and soon 
disappears with draining and good tillage. 
The Avena fatua is very common in the stiff lias clays in the 
Vale of Gloucester, and it is curious that an objection urged by 
the Vale farmer against the sowing of oats, is that, in his opinion, 
the scattered grain degenerates into wild oats. Tliis is a question 
I shall not discuss at present, but that wild oats should be 
dreaded is not wonderful, as in some instances they completely 
smother the intended crop, growing higher than wheat ; and as 
they shed their seeds before the wheat is ripe, a continued suc- 
cession is maintained. However, even wild oats soon disappear 
under good tillage and judicious cropping.- 
The Lolium temulentum (darnel) is the only other species that 
need now be commented upon. This grass has large seeds, 
which are reputed to possess highly intoxicating properties, but 
as it occurs in such small quantities, I have had no opportunities 
of testing these qualities, but from the nature of the case I incline 
to think that they have been much overrated. 
Having now dwelt upon the natural history of grasses as they 
occur in the more wild state, it seems proper to note that some 
of them are cultivated as shifting crops, and come in in a regular 
course of rotation, and though up to the present time only a few 
sorts have been so employed, yet it seems desirable to study the 
habits of grasses more carefully, with a view of increasing this 
