p.3

397

Trans. Wis Agr. Soc. Vol 3. 1854

[black and white illustration]
J.W.Orr N.Y.

Indian Women Gathering Wild Rice

written 1853

The Grasses of Wisconsin,
and the Adjacent States of Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and
Michigan, the Territory of Minnesota, and the Regions
about Lake Superior.

By I. A. Lapham, Milwaukee.

The word grass conveys two very distinct and different ideas; and
when used should be explained in such manner as to leave no doubt in
the mind of the reader as to which is intended. In common usage the
word includes herbage, or plants which constitute the food of cattle and
other beasts, without regard to any particular species of family of the
vegetable kingdom. This is obviously very indefinite, and would include
(besides the true grasses) the branches of trees, and a host of
nutritious plants, as well as clover and lucerne. A much more precise
definition is given to the word grass (Gramineae) in botany where it
includes only such plants as posses certain characters in common, con-