HORTUS GRAMINEUS WO B L RN ENSl S. 85 



It is the principal grass in all rich natural pastures; and 

 therefore, in laying down permanent pastures, it should 

 always form one-eighth of any mixture of seeds used for that 

 purpose. Its merits demand this preference, whether with 

 respect to early growth, produce, nutritive qualities, or per- 

 manency. Birds are fond of the seeds, and therefore the 

 seeds should be collected from the first culms that ripen. 

 It flowers in April, May, and June, according as it may have 

 been depastured earlier or later. Seed ripens in June and 

 July, according to the season of flowering. 



POA pratensis. Smooth-stalked Meadow grass. 



Specific character : panicle spreading ; spikelets five- 

 flowered, smooth; straw erect, round; root creeping, 

 perennial. Native of Britain. 



Ohs. — This grass is distinguished from the jjoa trivialis, 

 rough-stalked meadow grass, by its strong creeping 

 roots, and the sheaths of the straw being smooth ; 

 whereas in the j^^a trivialis the sheaths are rough to 

 the touch ; the sheath scale is blunt, in the other it is 

 pointed, and so are the leaves. 



Experiments. — At the time of flowering, the produce from 

 a clayey loam, rich with vegetable matter, of active peat, 

 is 10,209 lbs. per acre; when the seed is ripe, 8,507 lbs. ; 

 and the latter-math weighed 4,083 lbs. 



This species sends forth its stems but once in the year ; 

 and these being the most valuable for hay, though too small 

 in quantity, it is on this account better adapted for pastur- 

 age than for the scythe. But upon the whole it is an inferior 

 grass ; its strong creeping roots exhaust the soil ; its growth 

 after mowing is slow ; and its spring growth, though early, 

 is inconsiderable ; and, upon the whole, it is unfit to be 

 introduced among the superior sorts. It flowers in the 

 beginning of June, and ripens seed in the beginning 

 of July. 



POA ccerulea. Short Blue Meadow grass. 



Specific character : panicle diffuse ; spikelets oval, gene- 



