4g f° 
The lower pale of the male flower has a dorsal awn (fig. 2) which is not sufficiently long to project 
beyond the upper glume (Distinction from Holcus mollis). The lower pale of the hermaphrodite flower 
is awnless. The upper pales (figs. 2, 3, 4, 10, 13) have no keels. The lodicules are 2 (figs. 2—4, 13), 
comparatively large, almost twice as long as the ovary of the fertile flower, broadly ovate at the base, 
and tapering to the apex. The pisti/ of the hermaphrodite flower (fig. 5) is composed of an ovary, 
hairy at the apex, and a pair of feathery stigmas. The rudimentary ovary of the male flower (fig. 6) 
is much smaller, and has only rudimentary stigmas. 
Flowering goes on as in Perennial rye-grass. At maturity, the whole spikelet simply detaches from 
its stalk and forms the false fruit, composed of a grain enclosed in a pair of pales, the pales of the barren 
flower, and the glumes (fig. 7): its length, taking the short awn or mucro of the glumes into account, 
is 4—5 mm. The caryopsis enclosed in its pales (fig, 10) is 1—2 mm. long, hairy at the base, and 
almost completely surrounded by the white and shining lower pale: on its ventral face lies the stalk, a 
remnant of the axis of the spikelet. The true fruit or caryopsis is oblong-ovate, slightly hairy at the 
summit, and with a groove on the ventral surface (fig. 11, 12). At maturity the awn of the male 
flower is bent and hook-like (fig. 8), but during flowering it is quite straight (fig. 2). 
Yorkshire fog is sometimes known as Woolly soft-grass. It is called »Yorkshire fog« because it 
is a very common and pestilent weed on the light soils of Yorkshire. 
Yorkshire fog is perennial. As a fodder-plant it is of little value. Schwerz mentions 
it as a very mediocre grass, yielding tasteless hay of little nutritive value. Sinclair says, 
»the numerous downy hairs which cover the surface of the whole plant, render the hay soft 
and spongy, and in this state it is disliked by cattle, particularly by horses«. Other agri- 
cultural writers speak of it as an excellent fodder-grass. Mansen says, »this is a very soft 
sweet and sappy grass, which when green, is much sought after by cattle and sheep. Cut 
and dried at the proper time i. e., before the panicle is fully spread, and before flowering, 
it yields a hay, which is surpassed by no other grass, and well liked, especially by horses.« 
The most competent authorities, however, agree in regarding Holcus as a worthless grass 
on all good soils, where better plants will thrive. 
Occurrence, Climate, Soil, Manure. Yorkshire fog is indigenous — to Portugal, Spain, Italy, 
France and to the whole of Central, Eastern, and Northern Europe, except Iceland and Lapland; to 
Africa — in Algeria; to Asia — in Caucasus, Georgia, Siberia (Ural, Baikal) It has been intro- 
duced into N. America. Occurs throughout England, Scotland and Ireland. »Perhaps without exception 
the commonest of the British grasses, or one that would be so, if the land were left in a state of na- 
ture, instead of being converted into ploughed fields and artificial meadows.« (Watson) 
It occurs on all classes of soil, in meadows and pastures, the margins of woods, etc. 
On the Jura, it reaches an altitude of 4,600 ft., on the Bavarian Alps, 2,450 ft., and on the Alps 
of Glaris and Grisons, 5,600 ft. 
Winter-frost frequently affects the plant, but does not quite kill it. As Yorkshire fog 
shoots rather early, late frosts are also injurious. In moist climates and seasons, the 
woolly character of the plant becomes more or less lost, and then, of course, the produce is 
more readily eaten by stock. In drier climates and soils, the hairy character becomes 
more pronounced. 
In wood-clearings the plant reaches its highest development, and on rich soils of a 
loose type, it becomes, as in Yorkshire, one of the most pestilent weeds, since it is self- 
sowing, and suppresses plants of better quality and larger yield. Its cultivation ought only 
to be attempted on peaty soils, and on poor sands, where better plants cannot thrive. In 
such cases it is valuable for covering bare spots. 
Name. 
History and 
agricultural 
value. 
Geographical 
distribution. 
Habitat. 
Limits of 
altitude, 
Climate. 
Soil. 
