14 THE SEEDS OF THE BLUEGKASSES. 



Prof. L. R. Jones, of the Vermont Agricultural Experiment Station, 

 reports the seed production from a nearly pure stand of this grass as 

 amounting- to 6 bushels of 19 pounds each per acre. A small plat 

 yielded seed at the rate of over 7 bushels per acre. The seed is pro- 

 duced abundantly and ripens evenly. In Vermont it is harvested in 

 the latter part of July. The name fowl meadow grass is often applied 

 to another lowdand grass, Panleularia nervata. 



Poa arachmfera (Texas bluegrass). — The seed of Texas bluegrass is 

 gathered by hand in northern Texas. It is cleaned by rubbing 

 between the hands, and, owing to the long, woolly hairs at the base of 

 the seed, it is never " fancy clean." The best seed is produced on 

 rich, black, waxy soil, and is ripe about Maj?^ 1 to 15. Onl}' a small 

 quantity is gathered each j^ear, and consequently it is high priced and 

 can not be considered as a commercial seed at the present time. 



Poa annua (annual bluegrass). — The seed of the annual bluegrass is 

 not on the market '\\\ this country, though the plant is common about 

 dwellings, especially in the South and East, and ripens its seed 

 throughout the summer. The seeds do not ripen evenly, the upper 

 ones falling before the lower flowers have opened. The seed is 

 gathered and used to some extent in Europe. 



Poa alpina (alpine meadow grass). — Alpine meadow grass is best 

 known in Switzerland, where the seed ripens from the end of June to 

 the middle of July. The viviparous form can be propagated by scat- 

 tering the buds during the hot weather. 



Poa sudetica. — The seed of Poa sudetlca^ which is a European grass, 

 is rare in the market, but is occasionally quoted by French and by 

 German firms. It is sometimes mixed to some extent with the seeds 

 of the meadow grasses, particularl}^ water meadow grass {Panicularia 

 americana). 



In addition to the foregoing, other species of Poa occur in the 

 western and northwestern United States, where they contribute to 

 the native forage of the stock ranges. The seeds of these species, 

 however, are not found in commerce. 



