KENTUCKY BLUE GRASS. 65 
Thus it is a native of Europe, northern Africa, Siberia and North 
America. It is also indigenous to Australia and the most southern 
parts of South America. 
Habitat: It grows naturally in practically all localities and is 
able to live under the most trying conditions. Its natural home is 
the meadow, butit is also common in other places. Thusit grows along 
roadsides and borders of woods, on dry hills and in wet marshes, 
along seashores, at the foot of Greenland glaciers and on the summits 
of mountains in Sahara. It is largely grown in almost every country 
where agriculture is of importance. 
Cultural conditions: For its proper development, Kentucky 
Blue Grass requires good soil. Extremes check its growth, and poor, 
sandy or gravelly soil suits it as little as do hard clays. On bottom 
lands, where the soil is loose and rich in humus, it attains its highest 
perfection, especially if the ground contains sufficient lime. In the 
limestone regions of Kentucky and Tennessee, Blue Grass is regarded 
as the king of pasture grasses, and it is said in some American states 
that whoever has the limestone land has also Blue Grass. 
Climate: It prefers medium moist conditions though it is 
resistant to drought. It is extremely hardy, bearing severe frost 
and a long covering of snow without injury. 
Habits of growth: Kentucky Blue Grass is rather slow in get- 
ting established. The first year it produces no stems and only a few 
leafy shoots, appearing in small, scattered tufts. The second year 
the tufts are less scattered because the underground runners have 
developed new leafy shoots, occupying most of the room between 
the branches of the first year’s growth, and a few flowering stems 
have developed. From the third year on, if conditions are favour- 
able, a thick, dense sod is formed, covering the ground entirely. 
Growth starts quite early in the spring and the plants usually flower 
about the same time as Orchard Grass. 
Agricultural value: If grown for hay, Kentucky Blue Grass 
should be cut when in flower, its feeding value being greatest at that 
time. After cutting, it starts rather slowly, and as the second growth 
consists chiefly of leaves, it cannot be relied upon for a second crop 
of hay. In mixtures, however, it makes a good bottom grass and 
adds considerably to the bulk of hay in the first cutting. It is one 
of the best grasses for lawn making. 
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