The same gentleman supposes it may be introduced into the Highlands of Scotland with good effect, but is of my opinion as to its utility in England.—­Rural Economy of the Hebrides, vol. ii. p. 27.

34.  Phleum nodosum.  Bulbous cat’s-tail-grass. (Phleum pratense var. ?  Hudson.)—­This affects a drier soil than the Timothy-grass:  it grows very frequently in dry thin soils, where it maintains itself against the parching sun by its bulbous roots, which lie dormant for a considerable time, but grow again very readily when the wet weather sets in,—­a curious circumstance, which gives us an ample proof of the wise contrivance of the great Author of Nature to fertilize all kinds of soil for the benefit of his creatures here below.  There is another instance of this in the Poa bulbosa, Bulbous Meadow-grass, which grows on the Steine at Brighton, and which I have kept in papers two years out of ground, and it has vegetated afterwards.

35.  Poa annua.  Annual meadow-grass.—­This is the most general plant in all nature:  it grows in almost every situation where there is any vegetation.  It has been spoken of as good in cultivation, and has had the term Suffolk grass applied to it, from its having been grown in that county.  I have never seen it in such states, neither can I say I should anticipate much benefit to arise from a plant which is not only an annual, but very diminutive in size.

36.  Poa aquatica.  Water meadow-grass.—­This is quite an aquatic, but is eaten when young by cattle, and is very useful in fenny countries:  it is highly ornamental, and might be introduced into ponds for the same purpose as Arundo Phragmites:  it might also be planted with Festuca elatior and Phalaris arundinacea, in wet dug out places, where it would be useful as fodder, and form excellent shelter for game.

37.  Poa fluitans.  FLOTE fescue-grass.—­This would be of all others the most nutritive and best plant for feeding cattle; but it thrives only in water.  I have noticed it only because it is highly recommended by the editor of Mr. Curtis’s Observations on British Grasses, 5th edit.  The cattle are very fond of it; but it is not to be cultivated, unless it be in ponds, being perfectly aquatic.

Linnaeus speaks of the seeds being collected and sold in Poland and Germany as a dainty for culinary purposes; but I have never seen it used here, neither are the seeds to be collected in great quantities.  Stillingfleet, on the authority of a Mr. Dean, speaks highly of its merits in a water-meadow, and also quotes Mr Ray’s account of the famous meadow at Orchiston near Salisbury.  There this, as well as Poa trivialis, most certainly is in its highest perfection; but the real and general value of grasses or other plants must not be estimated by such very local instances, when our object is to direct the student to a general knowledge of the subject.  See Curtis, art.  Poa trivialis.