148 THE AMERICAN FARMER. 



Specific characters: Lower florets connected at the base by a web of long, silky fila 

 ments, holding the calyx; outer palea, five-ribbed, marginal ribs hairy, upper sheath longer 

 than its leaf; height from ten to fifteen inches, root perennial, creeping, stem erect, smooth, 

 and round, leaves linear, flat, acute, roughish on the edges and inner surface; panicle diffuse, 

 spreading, erect. The plant is of a light green color, the spikelets frequently variegated 

 with brownish purple. Introduced. Flowers in June. 



This is an early grass, very common on the soils of New England in pastures and fields, 

 constituting a considerable portion of the turf. It varies much in size and appearance 

 according to the soil on which it grows. In Kentucky it is universally known as Blue grass, 

 and elsewhere frequently called Kentucky blue grass, and still more frequently, June grass. 

 It must be regarded as one of the best pasture grasses known. It is common all over the 

 northern part of the country, growing indigenously in all limestone countries lying between 

 the thirty-fourth and forty-fifth parallels, and coming to its highest perfection upon the rich, 

 marly blue limestone soils of some of the central counties of Kentucky. It is said to have 

 been found growing there when the region was first discovered, constituting a natural 

 pasturage that attracted vast numbers of grazing wild animals, countless herds of buffalo, 

 elk, deer, antelopes, etc. 



This grass is not so well adapted to a short rotation, and is, therefore, less suited to our 

 mowing-lots, from the fact that it requires three or four years to become well set so as to 

 form a close sward. This habit of growth is less objectionable as a permanent pasture. 

 When a soil is once well sodded with this grass, it will endure the vicissitudes of the seasons 

 heat and cold, sunshine and shade, droughts and floods with wonderful persistency. It is 

 the source of wealth in sections adapted to it; and there are pastures of it fifty years of age, 

 still luxuriant and profitable. It throws up flower-stalks but once in the season ; but it starts 

 quickly after grazing or cutting, and forms a thick green growth. 



On this account, it is highly recommended for lawns. It thrives equally well on high or 

 low lands, but is not adapted to a thin, poor soil. In some sections not adapted to its growth, 

 it is regarded as a troublesome weed. Its flower-stalk is short and matures early. It is not 

 to be judged in value by this, but by its long leaves, abundantly produced throughout the 

 season, which form a rich, sweet herbage; in fact, one of the best for milch cows, the dairy 

 product from such milk being of the best quality. On rich soil, the leaves will frequently 

 attain the length of two feet when allowed to grow. 



It grows well in rather a dry soil, but will grow on a variety of soils, from the dryest 

 knolls to a wet meadow. It does not withstand severe droughts as well as some other 

 grasses. It endures the frosts of winter better, perhaps, than most other grasses; and in 

 Kentucky, where it attains the highest perfection as a pasture grass, it sometimes continues 

 luxuriant through their mild winters. As it requires at least two or three years to become 

 well set, and does not arrive at its perfection as a pasture grass till the sward is older than 

 that, it is not suited to alternate husbandry, or where the land is to remain in grass only 

 two or three years and then be plowed up. In Kentucky, the best blue grass is found in 

 partially shaded pastures. 



Meadow Spear Grass, Nerved Manna Grass, (Poa nervata,} is the fowl meadow of 

 some farmers, while the grass most commonly called fowl meadow, (Poa serotina,) goes with 

 them under the name of &quot;bastard fowl meadow.&quot; It has a broad, open panicle, six inches in 

 length, with slender branches; spikelets small, ovate, oblong, green; leaves in two rows like a 

 fan, a little rough; stem a little compressed, one to three feet high. It is a native American 

 grass, flowering late in June. It is a hardy grass, grows best on wet or moist grounds, and 

 is said also to succeed on light upland soils. It is somewhat coarse, and not particularly 

 relished by cattle, though readily eaten in winter. It would be a valuable ingredient in a 

 mixture for moist pastures. It is not very common. Native of North America. 



