GRASSES FOR PASTURES AND MEADOWS. 227 



may fail in another. liecause a grass is a native to the country it 

 is no sign tliat it thrives there best. On the contrary, introduced 

 plants often thrive better than those which are indigenous. 



As an instance, we have only to think of some of our worst 

 weeds, most of which are foreigners. There is no one model 

 grass, — a grass best suited for all purposes. This has been found 

 to be the case with roses, with all kinds of fruits, grains, and veg- 

 etables. Some grasses are too slow in starting, or they are too 

 sensitive to frost, or tliey will not endure dry weather; the stems 

 are too woody, the leaves too thin, the tops too short, or the after- 

 math is of no account. 



In making selections for sowing, the farmer must be guided 

 by the climate; the soils, whether wet or dry, light or heavy. 

 He will be guided by the uses to which he puts the field, whether 

 for meadow, or pasture, or both, whether it is to remain seeded 

 for some years or for one or two years. He will be guided by his 

 location with regard to markets and supply of labor. 



It is to the advantage of a grass, especially for alternate hus- 

 bandry, if it seed freely, and if the seeds are comparatively large, 

 quite certain to grow and produce good strong plants in a short 

 time. These are doubtless some of the reasons why the rye 

 grasses are so popular, and why Timothy and orchard grass, and 

 the larger fescues are so much used in Europe. 



For permanent meadow, there is less objection to waiting a 

 longer time for the slower, finer grasses to become established, 

 such as meadow foxtail, June grass, and red top. 



The success of grasses depends on the supply of moisture. 

 Liberal spring rains, with mild weather, give grasses a good start 

 for the summer. For the dryer portions of the northern United 

 States, a grass must endure drying for months ; it must 'endure 

 freezing with bare ground in a dry atmosphere, with the mercury 

 down to 40*^ or 50'=' below zero^ or endure a burning sun with the 

 murcury up to 100° in the shade. It must be provided with 



