TRIANDRIA. 
85 
SPARGA'NIUM. Catkin globose, (flowers in spherical dense 
heads. E.) : Calyx three-leaved : Bloss. none. 
Bert. FL Drupa juiceless, one-seeded. 
[\Juncus conglomerate and eflusus. Salix triandra.] 
DIGYNIA. 
(1) Grasses.* Flowers scattered ; one in each calyx. 
PAN'ICUM. Cal. two-valved, two-flowered: one floret bar¬ 
ren, and one perfect. 
(CY'NODON. Cal. of two spear-shaped, acute, spreading, 
equal valves; shorter than the Bloss. of two com¬ 
pressed, very unequal valves : Seed coated with the 
hardened blossom. E.) 
ALOPECU'RUS. Cal, twovalved : Bloss. one valve, undi¬ 
vided at the end : Nectary none. 
* (For accurate discrimination of the seeds of the various Grasses, the agricultu¬ 
rist will do well to consult the elaborate descriptions, and lithographic representations, 
by Mr. Sinclair, in his Hort. Gram. Woburnensis, from which work, among various 
other interesting facts, we collect that the total number of distinct rooted plants in one 
square foot of the richest natural pasture of Devonshire, (fattening one ox, or three 
sheep, per acre), amounts to 1,000 ; of these are, natural grasses 940, creeping-rooted 
clover, and other plants 60, distinct species 20. In a water-meadow, well managed, 
on the same space, 1798 plants, 1702 grasses, 96 clover, &c. Botanists at present 
enumerate about fifteen hundred species of Grasses, of which one hundred and fifty 
are natives of Britain. Mr. Curtis, after many years experience, recommends the 
agriculturist rather to rely on a select few, than on too great a variety of Grasses ; viz. 
for moist land, Meadow Fox tail, and Rough-stalked Meadow Grass ; for moist or mo¬ 
derately dry land, Meadow Fescue, or Sweet-scented Vernal; and for dry pasture, Smoothm 
stalked Meadow Grass, and Crested Dog’s-tail. The latter he is inclined to consider 
inferior; see his “ Practical Observations on British Grasses,” with plates, a new 
edition, by Lawrence, 8vo. 1824. See also cuts in Mag. Nat. Hist. vol. i. 381, and 
our Introduction to Class iii. vol. 1. p. 132. As entire crops of grass are frequently 
deteriorated by rainy seasons, it may be well to recollect that a sprinkling of salt will 
render injured hay palatable to cattle. 
Among the almost infinite variety of insects which haunt Grasses for shelter and sus¬ 
tenance, perhaps the one most likely to attract attention, both from its magnitude and 
beautifully verdant colour, is the Gryllus viridissimus, Barbut. t. 8., in Devonshire 
called the Harvest-man, from the season of its appearance; the female of which, at 
the extremity of the abdomen, is furnished with two lamina?, representing the blade of 
a cutlass, with which she sinks her eggs deep in the earth. The male is destitute of 
such an appendage. 
“ Blest be the Pow’r, at whose command 
The grassy tribes o’erspread the land 
With ‘ sight-refreshing green 
Food for the flocks, and for the swain 
The exhilarating golden grain, 
To cheer his heart, his hopes sustain, 
And gladden every scene.”—S. H. E.) 
