CANARY GRASS, Pludaris careriensis, a grass of which the seed is much used, under the name of Canary seed, as food for cage-birds, and which is, on that account, cultivated to some extent in the s. of Europe, and in certain districts of Germany and England. It is a native of the Canary islands, naturalized in the s. of Europe, and in many places in Britain. The chief scats of its cultivation in England are the counties of Kent and Essex. The seed is sown early, generally in Feb., yet the crop is not reaped till after the ordinary grain harvest, for which reason the cultivation of C. G. is seldom attempted in the northern parts of Britain.—This grass attains a height of 2 or 3 ft., and has a crowded, egg-shaped, spike-like panicle, from an inch to almost 2 in. long; the spike lets are one-tiowered, very much laterally compressed, a rudimentary scale-like floret on each side of the perfect floret; the plumes winged on the keel, and with two strips of darker green on each side; the palm awnless, shining, and at last firmly inclosing the seed. A fine flour is prepared from Canary seed, which is employed as dresQing in fine cotton-weaving, and for the finishing of silken stuffs. The groats and flour of this small kind of grain are also used in the Canary islands, in Barbary, and in Italy, as food, the flour being made into bread, which is very nutritious and pleasant.—Other closely allied
species of pha/aris produce a similar grain, but are inferior in productiveness and qual ity.—A grass, now generally referred to this genus, and sometimes called REED C. G. (phalaris arundinacea), is very common on the banks of lakes and rivers, and 111 other wet places in Britain, and throughout southern and central Europe. It differs very much in appearance from C. G., having a large spreading panicle, generally of a reddish color; and the glumes are not winged at the keel. It is a somewhat reed-like grass, 4 to 6 ft. high, with creeping roots, which help to secure river banks; and yields a great bulk of hay, but has been very generally despised as a coarse grass, fit only for littering cattle. The justice of this opinion has, however, been called iu question, and the grass pro claimed to be very nutritious, and sufficiently acceptable both to horses and oxen when cut early. It may be mown twice a year. A variety with curiously striped leaves is well known in gardens, as ribbon grass, gardeners' garters, or ladies' traces,