— i89 — 



BOTANICAL DEPARTMENT. 



NOTES ON THE MEADOW-GRASSES. 



The term meadow-gra.ss as here used is a general one and is 

 intended to include the various species of the botanical genus 

 Poa, of which the best known representative is the Kentucky 

 Blue Grass, or June Grass. 



The genus Poa is one of the largest genera of grasses, the 

 most conservative authorities making out at least from 80 to 

 100 species. These are widelj' dispersed over the northern 

 temperate regions, l)ut are infrequently met with in warmer lati- 

 tudes. Within the limits of the State of New York about twelve 

 meadow-grasses are found growing wild as native or introduced 

 plants, while the number in the United States is not far from 

 forty-five. 



Of all this large number only a very few are regarded as pos- 

 sessing any agricultural value ; but it is probable that other forms 

 if subjected to cultivation might prove valuable for certain soils 

 or certain purposes. 



The notes here given on a few meadow-grasses are derived 

 from experiments now in progress on a considerable number of 

 grasses which are commonly regarded as possessing greater or less 

 value as cultivated plants. The experiments include the culti- 

 vation of the grasses in question both in pots and in the open 

 ground, and are intended to afford opportunities for a somewhat 

 close economic, structural, and comparative study of the species 

 in question. 



The part of the experiment here referred to consists of the sow- 

 ing of the seeds of some thirty agricultural grasses in adjacent 

 plats in the garden, where the soil and all conditions of cultiva- 

 tion are as nearlj' uniform as possible. The plats are each 

 two by six feet in size, and were sown in Ma}^ 1889, the seeds 

 being obtained in the open market from a commercial dealer. The 

 experiments are under the immediate charge of Mr. W. W. Row- 

 lee. The notes here given are made Nov. 20, 1889. 



I. Kentucky Blue-grass.' June-grass. Spear-grass. i^Poa pra- 

 tcnsis.~) Three plats were §own, the seeds being obtained from 

 different sources, — ^,an extra qualit}' of seed, direct from Kentuck}-, 



