The Blue Grasses in New York State 620 



blue grasses are strongly stolonif erous ; that is, they send out rhi- 

 zomes or underground stems which reproduce new culms or 

 plants, which in turn send out their roots into the soil. This type 

 of grass may be pastured closely and never reseed itself ; yet, under 

 favorable conditions, it will live indefinitelv. These rhizomes are 

 difficult to eradicate, especially in the heavier soils. In general, 

 Kentucky blue grass is not a deep-rooted plant and it suffers in 

 protracted periods of dry, hot weather. 



Adaptation 



This grass reaches its best development on fertile, well-drained 

 limestone soils. Soils that have grown hardwood forests seem 

 adapted to its growth. It grows better on clay and clay loams 

 than on sandy soils. Much of the land in ISfew York State is too 

 acid for the best growth of Kentucky blue grass, and its shallow 

 roots cause it to be readily aifected by a lack of moisture, espe- 

 cially during July and August. 



Seeding 



Kentucky blue grass seed comes chiefly from a limited area 

 near Lexington, Kentucky. Because of the methods of harvesting, 

 the genninating qualit)^ of the seed is often low, the usual stand- 

 ard of germination being only about 50 per cent. The purity of 

 the seed, however, is usually good, the most common adulterant 

 being seed of Canada blue. 



This grass should not l)e planted alone for permanent pasture, 

 because of its slowness in starting. When twenty-five years old, 

 pastures of Kentucky blue grass are more efficient than when only 

 five vears old. As it forms a sod slowlv, for the first two or three 

 yeaj's it is necessary to grow with it the more rapidly growing, 

 shorter-lived grasses and clovers. It may be seeded in a mixture 

 in late summer or early fall, alone, or with a nurse crop of 

 wheat or rye. Spring seeding is often resorted to, using oats or 

 barley as a nurse crop. In this, case, however, a light seeding of 

 the nurse crop should be made to prevent the coarser-growing 

 annuals from choking out the more delicate grass and clover 

 plants. 



