63 



No. 202. Poa fendleriana (Stend.) Vasey. Mutton-grass. 



Widely di.stributed iu the Rocky Monutaiii regiou and on the Pacific Slope, extend- 

 ing southward through Arizona into Mexico. It grows in tufts to the height of 

 1 to 2 feet, has numerous long root-leaves, and short, compact heads or panicles. 

 It is tender, and affords a large amount of excellent grazing in the regions where 

 it throws abundantly, and may prove a valuable acquisition to the forage grasses 

 of the Atlantic States. 



No. 203. Poa flabellata Hook. Tussock-grass. 



A native of the Falkland and adjacent islands, which has attracted the attention of 

 travellers by its stout habit of growth and evident nutritious qualities. The 

 flowering stems are 5 to 8 feet high, and these are often exceeded by the numer- 

 ous radical leaves. This grass grows in great tussocks, 1 to 4 or 5 feet across. 

 The stems and long leaves are used for thatch. "It loves a rank, wet, peat bog, 

 with the sea spray dashing over it, an<l wherever the waves beat with greatest 

 vehemence and the saline spray is carried farthest, there the tussock grass thrives 

 the best, provided, also, it is on the soil it prefers." It thrives in cold countries 

 near the sea in pure sand at the edge of ]>eat bogs. The base of the stem is 

 edible, having a taste of mountain cabbage, a species of palm. The introduction 

 of this grass to certain points along our Northern seaboard, where other grasses 

 will not thrive or where there is danger of encroachment upon the laud by the 

 sea, may be desirable. The nutritious qualities of the grass and its furnishing 

 good fodder the year round upon the Falkland Islands has been repeatedly noted 

 by authors. 



No. 204. Poa flava Linn. False Ked-top. 



A native of northern Europe and the northern portions of our OAvn country, growing 

 naturally iu wet meadows and along the low banks of streams. It attains the 

 height of 2 to H feet, or even 4 feet in rich, moist soils, and has an expanded, 

 nodding panicle of rather small, purplish, or "bronzed" spikelets. It is found 

 in nearly all parts of New England, and often forms a very considerable and 

 valued portion of the native hay of the low meadows. It has been cultivated 

 to some extent, but should only be used in mixtures, as it does not make a good 

 sod when sown alone. It blooms in July and August. 



No. 205. Poa nemoralis Linn. Wood Meadow-grass. 



The larger forms of this are hardly to be distinguished from Foajiaca, and have a 

 similar range. It will, however, grow in a drier soil, excessive moisture being 

 harmful to it. In ^Montana this species ascends to the altiiude of 9,000 feet. At 

 this elevation it is dwarfed in iialjit, but at lower elevations it becomes taller 

 and affords excellent forage. There are several varieties of this grass in the 

 Kocky Mountains and the Northwest, some of them growing upon the dry foot- 

 hills and bench lauds. The larger iV)rms are well adapted ftu- hay. It is less 

 ])roductive than many others, and its cultivation is not recommended, excepting 

 in shady parks or oi)en woodlands where an increase of forage is desired, or in 

 shaded lawns, and then only in the Northern and Middle States. 



No. 206. Poa uevadensis Vasey. Nevada I)lue-grass. 



A ])crennial bunch grass from the western i)rairie and plains regions. It grows on 



both dry and damp soils, produces a large amount of excellent hay, and is 



apparently worthy of cultivation. 



No. 207. Poa pratensis Linn. Kentucky Blue-grass. (Fig. 76.) 

 This is apparently native throughout the temperate regions of the northern hemi- 

 sphere. It ranges from Labrador to South Carolina, westward to the Pacific 

 coast and northward to Alaska. In the limestone regions of Kentucky and 

 Tennessee it attains its greatest perfection and is there regarded as the king of 



