292 GRASSES AND HOW TO GROW THEM. 



on dry soils and which are frequently designated wire 

 grass, as for instance Kentucky blue grass (Poa j^ra- 

 tensis). Wire grass is so named, doubtless, from the 

 tough character of the stems, so tough that they resist 

 distension in a marked degree without breaking. 



This grass is a perennial, which grows to the height 

 of about two feet generally. Usually much of the 

 growth is made while the soil, which produces it, is yet 

 covered with water for a short distance above the sur- 

 face. The water gradually subsides as the season ad- 

 vances and has entirely disappeared from the surface 

 by the time that the grass is ready for being harvested. 

 The stems are relatively numerous. The panicles pro- 

 duce seed if the spring should happen to be so dry as 

 to stunt the grass in its growth; but in ordinary sea- 

 sons and under conditions which favor vigorous growth, 

 it is said that it does not produce seed. It has a creep- 

 ing root-stock and the roots form so strong a turf that 

 heavy loads can be driven across wire grass meadows, 

 which rest upon a cushion of miry peat oftentimes 

 several feet deep. 



This grass does not begin to grow until the frost 

 leaves the ground for some distance below the surface ; 

 but it grows rapidly in the late spring and early sum- 

 mer; and is ready for being harvested in July. It re- 

 tains its greenness for several weeks; hence, the sea- 

 son of harvesting is frequently prolonged. It is prac- 

 tically useless as food for live stock, owing to the woody 

 character of the stems. It has been used to some ex- 

 tent by upholsterers, but now it is chiefly used in the 

 manufacture of binder twine, furniture, mats, rugs and 



