trivialis, Cynosurus cristatus, and Festuca pratensis ; all but Cy-
nosurus common in this State, and many of them far inferior for
culture here to our Timothy Grass.
Glyceria. R . Br. 3. 2.
G. Jluitans. R. Br. Floating Fescue. This was taken from
Festuca, and is closely allied to F. elatior ; grows in wet places,
and stagnant water, and its long, narrow leaves float on the surface.
The herbage, roots, and seed are grateful to various
animals. The generic name is from the Greek for sweet, from the
pleasantness of the herbage to cattle.
G. acutiflora, Torrey, was found at Deerfield by Dr. Cooley ;
much like the other, but a smaller grass.
C ynosurus. L. 3. 2.
Named from the Greek for dog’s tail, from the form of the
spike of flowers. About 20 species are spread over the eastern
continent, though but few in one section.
G. cristatus. L. Dog’s-tail Grass. Is common in the
meadows of Europe, and is rather a favorite grass of the English;
The seed of it is now sold to agriculturists, and the value of the
grass in this country will soon be ascertained. It yields much
more bulk of grass in seed-time, than in flowering ; but its nutriment
is far greater when cut in flowering-time, even as 17 to 10.
It delights in a dry soil ; fitted for good pasturage. .Sinclair.
U niola. L. 3. 2.
U. spicata. L. Spike Grass. Named from the union of the
glumes. Loudon. An American genus found about salt marshes.
H olcus. L. 3. 2.
H. lanatus. L. Woolly Soft Grass. Velvet Grass. Culm
2 — 3 feet high, with a downy covering, very soft; in meadows at
Watertown. Big. Introduced. Named from the Greek to
draw, on the old notion that the leaves would draw out thorns
from the flesh. Loudon. A grass little desired by any animals.
This is one of the grasses, that have polygamous flowers, sometimes
both stamens and pistils in the same flowers, and at others
not.
H ierochloa. Gmelin. 3. 2.
Glume 2-valved, 3-flowered ; lateral florets bear 3 anthers only,
central floret is'perfect, with 2 stamens commonly.
Taken from Holcus, whose glumes are 2-flowered, and have
dissimilar florets.
H. borealis. R. and S. Seneca Grass. Panicle rather
1-sided, somewhat spreading ; 18 inches high ; wet meadows ;
May. Sweet-scented American plant, spread widely over the
country j but not of much utility.
H ordeum. L. 3.' 2. Barley.
Inflorescence a spike or long dense head of flowers ; spikelets
3 at each joint of the head, 1-flowered, commonly all perfect.
Several species are cultivated.
H. vulgare. L. The common barley.
H. hexastichon. L. The head six-rowed.
H. distichon. L. The'spike two-rowed.
A well-known use of barley is for malting, for the production
of beer ; a drink, which is the bane; of England, and is far
too often a nauseous compound in this country, ruinous to appetite,
and health, and good looks. Beer-drinkers have a loathsome
appearance.
Barley flour forms much valued hot cakes for breakfast. Pot
barley is a preparation of the seed by grinding off the husk. In
the pearl or hulled barley, the seed is left finely round and white ;
it is much used in soups and in medicinal drinks. Loudon. Its
use is comparatively familiar in this country.
H. jubalum. L. Wild Barley. Squirrel-tailed Grass. Culm
slender, smooth, about 2 feet high, with rather short leaves ; awns