31 



Washington, D. C, Bermuda-grass is known as wire grass, and in Australia it 

 is called Couch-grass. 



No. 80. Cynosurus cristatus Linn. Crested Dog's-tail. (Fig. 33). 



A slightly tufted perennial grass, 1 to 2 feet high, with line and chieliy radical 

 leaves. It is a native of Europe aud is adapted to cultivation in moist, tem- 

 perate regions, and has been sparingly introduced into this 

 country. On moist, rich land it is fairly productive, hut is 

 rarely sown alone, excepting for seed or the formation of 

 lawns, for which latter purpose it is well adapted, as it 

 forms an even and compact sward when thickly sown. It 

 is said to thrive well in the shade, a fact which gives it im- 

 portance to those having shaded lawns. It forms a good 

 bottom grass, has a highly nutritive value, and is recom- 

 mended for all mixtures used for permanent pastures, espe- 

 cially in hilly regions. The mature stems of this grass are 

 among the most valuable of those used in the manufacture 

 of Leghorn hats. Number of seeds in a pound of pure seed 

 is about 1,127,000. Price of seed in New York, 40 to 60 cents 



per pound, or $7 to $12 per bushel of 

 It 21 pounds. 



No. 81. Dactylis glonierata Linn. 

 Orchard-grass. (Fig. 34.) 



This is one of the best known aud most 

 popular of our cultivated grasses. 

 It will grow well on any soil con- 

 taining a reasonable amount of fer- 

 tility, excepting that which is very 

 wet. It is a hardy grass and may 

 be grown successfully anywhere in 

 the United States, except in the ex- 

 treme South and in the arid regions 

 of the West. It yields au abundant 

 crop of excellent hay, and may be 



sown alone for this purpose, but 



Fig. 33.-Creste(l Dog's- 

 tail {Cynosurus cris- 

 tatus.) 



owing to its habit of forming tufts 

 or tussocks, the land should be 



seeded heavily or the seeds should be mixed with other 

 kinds, to act as fillers or bottom grasses. It is -a good 

 pasture grass, especially for open woodlands, and affords 

 excellent grazing earlier than almost any other species. 

 The aftermath is une(xualed in amount by any of the 

 grasses ordinarily cultivated for hay. When sown with 

 other grasses, the tendency of Orchard-grass to form tus- 

 socks is much diminished and the sward greatly improved. 

 Heavy rolling is also recommended for checking or pre- 

 venting the tufted growth which this grass naturally 

 assumes. By this operation the tufts are pressed down 

 to the level of the other grasses and the turf becomes 

 more uniform. In old, rich meadows of Orchard-grass 

 it is advisable to harrow in the spring and afterwards use 

 the roller. Its best record of yield, made by Sinclair, was 27,905 pounds green, 

 11,859 pounds of hay, and 11,910 pounds of green aftermath per acre. Sow 3 

 to 4 bushels to the acre. The average number of grains in one pound of pure 

 seed is 579,500. Price of seed, as given in New York catalogues, $3 per bushel 

 of 14 pounds. In England Orchard-grass is known as Cock's-foot. 



FiQ. 34.— Orchard-grass 

 (Dactylis glomerata) . 



