Chapter 78 - The grass introduces itself (Part 3)

In tennis, the grass is grown on very hard-packed soil, and the bounce of a tennis ball may vary depending on the grass's health, how recently it has been mowed, and the wear and tear of recent play. The surface is softer than hard courts and clay (other tennis surfaces), so the ball bounces lower, and players must reach the ball faster resulting in a different style of play which may suit some players more than others. Among the world's most prestigious court for grass tennis is Centre Court at Wimbledon, London which hosts the final of the annual Wimbledon Championships in England, one of the four Grand Slam tournaments.

Ornamental grasses, such as perennial bunch grasses, are used in many styles of garden design for their foliage, inflorescences, seed heads. They are often used in natural landscaping, xeriscaping and slope stabilization in contemporary landscaping, wildlife gardening, and native plant gardening.

There are economically important of grasses:-

1. Grain crops are Barley, Maize (corn), Oats, Rice, Rye, Sorghum, Wheat and Millet

2. Leaf and stem crops are Bamboo, Marram grass, Meadow-grass, Reeds, Sugarcane, Lawn grasses, Bahiagrass, Bentgrass, Bermudagrass, Bluegrass, Buffalograss, Centipede grass, Fescue, Ryegrass,

St. Augustine grass,

3. Ornamental grasses (Horticultural) are Calamagrostis spp., Cortaderia spp., Deschampsia spp., Festuca spp., Melica spp., Muhlenbergia spp., Stipa spp.

As regards to their role in society, the grass-covered house in Iceland. You may have seen this here also on the Magical World.

Grasses have long had significance in human society. They have been cultivated as feed for people and domesticated animals for thousands of years. The primary ingredient of beer is usually barley or wheat, both of which have been used for this purpose for over 4,000 years.

In some places, particularly in suburban areas, the maintenance of a grass lawn with trees is a sign of affluence, status symbol, of the homeowner, it also indicates a healthy green space and an ample supply of fresh oxygen.

Some common proverbs that use the word grass are as follows:-

"The grass is always greener on the other side" suggests an alternate state of affairs will always seem preferable to one's own.

"Don't let the grass grow under your feet?" tells someone to get moving.

"A snake in the grass" means dangers that are hidden.

"When elephants fight, it is the grass which suffers," tells of bystanders caught in the crossfire.

A folk myth about grass is that it refuses to grow where any violent death has occurred.

Then it is said that vegans and vegetarians are grass eaters. But it seems that non-vegetarians also eat grass but to a lesser extent. They also consume wheat, rice, maize, etc as cereals.

"This is great information. I did not know that the cereals like rice, wheat, and maize were covered under the heading of grasses!" exclaimed Cathy. "This means we are all grass eaters even if we are non-vegetarians to the extent of 50-75%."

"Yes imagine that even barley and sugar cane are covered in grasses," Sherpa said with great surprise on his face. "It is said that we always keep learning in life, Thank you for providing this useful information about all types of grasses."

Aarvin asked, Has anyone any questions to ask from the grasses?"

"I do," said Ben. "When people trample you, cut you or burn you then do you feel pain? When animals eat you by pulling you, do you feel pain?"

The grass was amused by the question asked by Ben. It was a valid question.

"Normally, people do not know that plants can feel. It is only when confronted by the Touch me not or Sensitive plant that people can actually see that plants respond to an external stimulus. If you touch a sensitive plant it closes."

"Yes, we do have feelings. But until recently, science had not able to show this. scientists have performed experiments on the same type of plants."

"By exposing one set of plants to hard rock and the other plants to classical music, it was noticed that the first set tried to grow away from the hard rock music while the other set of plants grew towards the side where the sound of classical music was coming."

"Can plants transmit messages especially to those who are sensitive i.e. who can feel the vibrations of plants?" Zoya who was very sensitive to subtle energies asked.

"Yes, but this question can be better answered by trees. They are better able to transmit messages telepathically to the persons which relative is in the dire strait or on the death bed and wants to meet him/her."

Ben wanted to know if the different types of grasses ever fought. So he asked the grass this question.

The grass replied, "We all grasses live in harmony. We know that if a particular area is left to itself, colonization starts from the smaller grasses to bigger ones."

"Lichens are called pioneer colonisers of bare rock. Lichens release small quantity of acids which corrode the surface of rocks creating small pores and releasing minerals."

" With the passage of time the porous surface changes into a thin layer of soil. Then comes the next and so on till there are grasses like us. We also give way to bigger grasses."

"If mankind looks after a particular grass and not let the other types grow by pulling weeds and other types of grasses, then we remain for ages and ages."

You must have seen the ornamental lawns people have in their designed gardens? Those gardens are well looked after."

You can discuss among yourselves and ask me any questions if you have any doubt. Like I said earlier, I will answer your questions if they are in my program. If I cannot then I will convey that reply to you all."

"Wow!" exclaimed Sunny.

"Why can we not such chips installed in the various plants and trees in our school? Learning would be so much fun. I will put this fact in my report. I will say that I came across such a chip on a blade of grass and it gave me information about itself as it could talk."

"Your idea is good, but who will believe you? " said Sherpa.

"Chips in our area are not put anywhere. Trackers/Markers are clipped on the ears of endangered animals, to keep track of them."

"So, I think you need to just give it as a suggestion. There is no need to give any story about it. "