File:The British grasses and sedges (1858) (14577550767).jpg

Identifier: britishgrassesse00prat (find matches)
Title: The British grasses and sedges
Year: 1858 (1850s)
Authors: Pratt, Anne, 1806-1893
Subjects: Botany Grasses
Publisher: London, Society for promoting Christian knowledge
Contributing Library: University of British Columbia Library
Digitizing Sponsor: University of British Columbia Library

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Text Appearing Before Image:
ery meadow of the temperate zone,but occasionally in most climates, often on mountains ata great elevation. And not alone in meadows do we see itscheerful verdure, but on almost every waste spot wherea wild weed may spring;—on the bank by the road-side,among the mosses and stonecrops of the wall, on thegarden path, among the stones of the beach just beyondthe reach of the tide, with the reeds by the river, onthe churchyard grave, and between the crevices of thecity pavement where the foot of the passenger dailytreads. Be the season inclement as it may, nor winds,nor sleet, nor chilling rains will exterminate it, thoughthe frost may nip its blades. It is in flower all thespring and summer, and occasionally even in Winter,and it ripens its seeds and sheds them in the soil evenbefore the time of weeding commences. It is moreuseful on meadow-land on which cattle feed than it isfltted for hay. It is one of tlie sweetest grasses, and itis thought that dui-ing more than eight months of the
Text Appearing After Image:
vrxtUHT.HJ ukatii gkass, 1 1 I .li.i HtTiinibnii: BRITISH GRASSES AND SEDGES. 95 year it ripens and deposits seed. This circumstance, andits growth under a lower temperature than any othergrass will submit to, render it almost like a perennial onthe green mead, and it is well suited for parks andlawns, with the vernal grass and white clover, as it doesnot turn yellow, like Sheeps Tescue, and some othergrasses used for pleasure-grounds, but makes a beautifuland permanent verdure. Much do those who delight inthe green lane or wide-spread meadow owe to this littleplant. It has many fibres to its root, and they serve tofix the grass so firmly that the frost, which loosens somany plants, leaves this stedfast as ever. It becomes,says Mr. Knapp, a support to its needy neighbours inwinter, and by its plentiful and sheltering foliage pre-serves a certain degree of humidity during the exhala-tions of summer. It is sometimes the prevailing grasson meadow land. The stem of the Annual Meadow-grass

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