119 
The caryopsis is at most two mm, long and somewhat flat; the ventral surface is scarcely grooved; 
the dorsal shews the small embryo at the base (figs. 14 to 16). 
This grass is usually spoken of simply as dogstail, because other species of the genus are rare and 
of no agricultural importance, The name dogstail refers to the form of the inflorescence. At Hamburg it is 
called »Kammsaat«, at Berne »Herdgras« and al Darmstadt »Goldspitze« from the colour of the seed. 
To England is due the credit of first introducing this grass to the notice of agriculturists. 
Stillingfleet grew it along with Timothy as early as 4761. It had the reputed property of preventing 
foot rot in sheep pastured upon it. 
Crested dogstail has high nutritive value, and when grown in mixture with taller 
plants, adds considerably to the produce of bottom grass. Its high nutritive value, leaving 
the amount of produce out of account, suffices to give it a place among the best fodder 
grasses. Along with perennial rye-grass, smooth - stalked meadow grass and red clover, 
dogstail abounds in the excellent pastures at Berkeley in England. To the presence of these 
erasses, the renown of the pastures as well as of the cheese produced in that district has 
been attributed. At any rate, the most renowned pastures of England, Holland and Schleswig- 
Holstein contain abundance of crested dogstail. In the pastures of the Alps also, it is 
one of the most abundant grasses. It is perennial and is used to form bottom grass 
either in hay or in pastures. 
Occurrence, climate, soil, manure. Dogstail is indigenous to the whole of Lurope from Portugal 
to the Urals, extending from Greece and Italy in the south to Sweden and Finland in the north; to 
Asia. in Caucasus and Georgia. It is not indigenous to America. 
On good soils, if is common everywhere in meadows and on hills, by road sides and the borders 
of fields, and in grass-land whether moist or dry. 
On the Alps it ascends to high altitudes (Klosters 3,900 ft., Rellsthal 3,900 ft., Gurnigel 4,200 ft., 
Napf 4,600 ft., Seelibiihl 5,700 fl.). In Switzerland it is more abundant on the lower Alps than on 
the plains. 
Moist climates are most suitable for dogstail; and on mountainous and in maritime 
(listricts it is therefore very successful. It withstands drought very well, as its root-system 
descends to a considerable depth into the ground. It also thrives well in shade. 
It succeeds on almost all kinds of soil, especially on those of a medium type which 
are rich in humus, e. g. loams, mild clays, marls and loamy sands. On stiff clays it 
also grows well. On sour soils or loose sands it does not thrive. It loves moist land, but 
is also found on dry and even on sandy soils; in the latter case, its growth is more or 
less stunted. On moist soils it developes well; very wet land is not suitable for it and 
it is out of place there. 
According to Way and Ogston, 1000 Ibs. of hay cut when in flower remove from the soil: — 
Phosphoric Acid 4.0. Ibs. Lime : : 5.6 Ibs. 
Potash =. . 17.7 ,, Sulphuric Acid . a 
Magnesia . bas are Silica 22.0 ,, 
According to Arendt, the following amounts are removed: — 
Nitrogen . . . 22.8 Ibs. Lime 4 oe oy) oe De. 
Phosphoric Acid . 54 ,, UCR ne cK Ue) 9 
Magnesia ete ys ee A 
According to Way the percentage of Nitrogen is 41,52, according to Rilthausen d& Scheven, 
only 4,05. 
Name. 
History. 
Agricultural 
yalue. 
Geographical 
distribution. 
Habitat. 
Limits of 
altitude. 
Climate. 
Soil. 
Substances 
removed 
from the soil. 
