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, but it is also common in other places. Thus it 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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