63 



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



Widely distributed iu the Rocky Mountain regiou and on the Pacific Slope, extend- 

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

 1 to 2 feet, Las 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 grows abundantly, and may prove a valuable acquisition to the I'orage 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 ofteu 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 hives a rank, wet, peat bog, 

 with the sea spray dashing over it, and 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 peat 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 land by the 

 sea, may be desirable. The nutritious (jualities 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 Red-top. 



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

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

 height of 2 to 3 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 Poa flava, 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 altitude of 9, 000 feet. At 

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

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

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

 hills and bench lands. The larger forms are well adapted for hay. It is less 

 jiroductive than many others, and its cultivation is not recommended, excepting 

 in shady parks or ojien woodlands where an increase of forage is desired, or in 

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



No. 206. Poa nevadensis Vasey. Nevada Blue-grass. 



A ])erennial bunch grass from the western prairie 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 noithern hemi- 

 sphere. It ranges from Laljrador 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 



