184 



40. Poa pratensis, Ti. (White foim.) Seed collected in North-West Territories, 

 Sown s))ring of 1888. Flowered June, 1889. Transplanted into present bed May, 

 1890. Speared 14th June. Flowered 20th June. Kipe 4th Jul3\ This isaveiy 

 handsome form with wide, slightly pale leaves and conspicuously glaucous panicles. 

 It is almost a bunch grass producing very few and short runners. It is not unlike some 

 forms of Poa cce&ia; but has been pronounced Poa pratensis b}' most of the botanists 

 to whom I have submitted specimens. Height 2 feet; leaves 1 foot. This varietj- 

 was also badl}- attacked bj' the American Frit Fl3^ 



41. Poa serotina, Ehrh, (Fowl Meadow Grass.) (Platk VI.) Seed from Griswold, 

 Man, Sown spring of 1889. Transplanted June, 1889. Flowered twice in 1889. Speared 

 12th June, 1890.^ Flowered 3rd July, Eipe 21st July. 



Another bed grcwn from Kocky Mountain seed, but identical with above was 

 cut, for hay when in flower 8th July, and gave 44 lbs. grass to squai'e rod. This 

 shrunk in curing to 20 lbs. of excellent haj' or 1| tons to the acre. This excelleni 

 grass has been sparingly cultivated for 150 yeais. The fine branching stems are 

 abundantly pi oduced and remain green long after the seed is ripe. It grows well 

 in low ground and bears almost as heavy an aftermath at the end of August as 

 the first cro}), flowering stems being thrown up from the lower joints. In Manitoba 

 this grass sometimes covers large areas to the exclusion of nearly all other species. 

 The Indians about Griswold prefer it to all other grasses and travel long distances 

 to cut it, 



42. Sporobolus heterolepis, Gray (Strong-scented Drop-seed Grass). Seed from 

 Brandon, Man. Seed sown spring of 1888. Ti-ansplanted to present bed, June, 1889. 

 Speared, 8th July, 1890. Flowered, 20th July. Eipe, 27th August. This is a bunch 

 grass with long fine leaves. It will grow in almost pure sand or in stiff clay. Mr. 

 Bedford credits it with being good feed. The quantity, however, is small. 



Plots of the two following North American grasses have also been grown. 

 Bromus segetum is a Mexican species, but Buchloe dactyloides will probably be found 

 along the southern border of our western prairies, 



43. Bromus segetum. Seed from Dr. Vasey. An annual which bears twice cutting 

 and will then seed itself for the next year. The yield of hay is not he^vy enough to 

 give it much agricultural value. 



44. Buchloe dactyloides, ^nge\m.. (Buffalo Grass). Seed from Dr. Va ^ey. Sown 

 1889. Tjansplanted to 2>i"esent bed, June, 1889. Began to flower, June, 24th, and 

 continued till end of season. This is the true Buffalo Grass. It is of a remarkable 

 habit. It starts very late in spiing, not showing a sign of life until June, when it 

 throws out vigorous shoots which branch at each joint and take root, so that it soon 

 forms a thick mat about 3 inches in depth, of fine stems and hair-like leaves. It is 

 said to be a most nutritious and attractive gi-ass to all kinds of stock. 



o' 



B. — Foreign Grasses. 



A. — In addition to the above, the following foreign grasses have been grown in 

 plots to test their value for this climate. The seed was in all cases received from 

 English or German seedsmen, and almost every sample contained many seeds of 

 weeds and other grasses. 



45. Agrostis capillaris. Resembles A. vulgaris. 



46. " dispar. Thesame as A. vulgariSjVfith. Cut for hay, July 23 ; 76 lbs. 



of grass to sq. rod. 



47. " vulgaris, var. alba. This is not the same as No. 6 above, which 



seems to be identical with A. stolo7iifera, Sm. of English authors. 



48. Alopecurus agrestis (Slender Foxtail). A slender annual grass of doubtful 

 value, far inferior to the perennial Meadow Foxtail (A. pratens's). 



49. Anthoxanthum odoratum (Sweet Vernal Grass). A very sweet grass with 

 the same scent as Holy Grass, Sown, May, 1890. Has not flowered yet. Seed 



