BOTANICAL DEPARTMENT. 181 



foxtail is not v^eW adapted to alternate husbandry, but is excellent for per- 

 manent pastures in moist climates. It starts very early in spring, and is well 

 ifTorth a trial in the richer parts of northern Michigan. 



SOKGHUM HALAPENSE. JOHXSON GRASS. 



This is a rather tall, coarse grass, introduced into the south, where the best 

 judges are agreed that ^n rich laud nothing surpasses it for permanent 

 meadow. The rootstocks are large and Juicy, and fill the ground like quack 

 ^rass. At the north, it starts too late and makes too thin a growth to be of 

 value ; moreover, the plants are more or less killed by the winter, unless well 

 mulched with snow or something else. It does not seem possible that it can 

 be of any use in Michigan. Inquiries have often been made, in reference to 

 habits and uses. Seeds ripen at Lansing. 



CTKODOX DACTYLON. BERMUDA GRASS. 



This foreign grass seldom seeds in the United States, but spreads rapidly 

 after the manner of June grass by stout rootstocks. It loves the sun and heat 

 and is one of the very best grasses for pasture and hay in warm climates. It 

 is propagated by planting pieces of the rootstocks, which soon fill up the inter- 

 vening spaces. At the Agricultural College, the habits of this grass have been 

 ■carefully studied for several years, where it has never failed to pass the winter, 

 though sometimes partially killed. It spreads slowly, in some places holding 

 its own or even gaining on June grass ; starts late in spring, and is killed back 

 to the ground by the first frost. It does not seem to be worthy of attention 

 in any part of Michigan. 



POA PRATENSIS. JUNE GRASS. KENTUCKY BLUE GRASS. BLUE GRASS. 



Although answers have been repeatedly given to inquiries about this native 

 ^ass they keep coming in. This is, perhaps, our most common grass found in 

 old pastures or by the wayside. On poor land, or in dry seasons, the flower 

 stalks seldom exceed a height of ten inches, while on rich laud it not unfre- 

 quently grows four feet high. The quality is excellent, as is well attested by 

 the famous pastures of some parts of Kentucky and of other States. It is 

 one of our best grasses for lawn and for pasture, and is too well known to need 

 a further notice. It must not be mistaken for flat-stemmed j)oa, also called 

 wire grass or blue grass. This latter is seldom purposely sown, as the growth 

 is late, thin, and slow ; still the quality is unsurpassed. 



POA SEROTINA. FOWL ilEADOW GRASS. FALSE RED TOP. 



This native grass is \eTy common on bottom lands in connection with red top 

 -which is rather more abundant and better known. Like the two preceding 

 species of Foa, this one also is of excellent quality for hay or pasture. The 

 panicle is long, loose, and flexible, the stems a little weak, and inclined to 

 lodge. It is very palatable, even after going to seed. The flowers appear in 

 July, about the time of the blossoms of red top. It is one of the best for 

 marsh-land meadows, but is not so well adapted for pasture. It deserves more 

 attention than it has received by the farmers of our State. Specimens, with, 

 inquiries, have come from several distant States as well as from our own. 



AGROSTIS VULGARIS. RED TOP. HERD'S GRASS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 



This varies much in color and habit and seems to shade off into A. stolonife 



