THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 
201 
rows of small spikelets, each containing about six flowers beariu 
hair-like awns. The plant attains a great size, and when growin 
amongst corn may be readily distinguished from other grasses. It 
has quite a literary fame as the “ only poisonous grass,” but in truth 
it is no more poisonous than a mushroom, which most of us are 
prepared to eat at any time without the shadow of a fear. 
The garden is capable of affording immense aid in the study of 
the grasses, and the collections which are grown as ornamental 
plants comprise a number of British species which, as a rule, are 
scarce as wild plants. They are valuable, too, for winter bouquets, 
and far more pretty in their natural colours than dyed, as we see 
them in the shops. As for variety, it is truly wonderful that so 
simple a type should be capable of the variations which we find in 
July. 
aq OQ 
