TEXAS BLUE GRASS. 143 



pasture, and is there usually much preferred to June grass, which 

 it much resembles. It is to that country what June grass is to 

 the eastern part of the United States. The grass is suited to 

 deep, moist loam, to sow with red top and fowl meadow grass, 

 but poorly suited to dry soils. 



The late Prof. James Buckman, of England, said : ie Poa 

 trivialis, is a month later than June grass and inferior to it." 

 In Europe the seeds of June grass are often sold for those of 

 Poa trivialis. 



In my plats of grasses in several places, this has always proved 

 a slow grower, and has soon been crowded out by June grass. 



P. arachnifera, Torr. Texas Blue Grass. This plant is well 

 supplied with creeping rootstocks, and is taller than P.pratensis. 

 The leaves are long and slender ; ligule short and obtuse. Pan- 

 icle 4-6 in. by in., light colored. Floral glumes prominently 

 ciliate on the keel below the middle ; at the base usually are very 

 long, webby hairs, Palea ciliate on the nerves, slightly adherent 

 to the caryopsis, which is twice as long as that of P. pratensis. 



For the South, as a pasture grass, this one seems very promis- 

 ing. It is hardy and a more rapid grower than Kentucky blue 

 grass. 



As far north as Kansas, Professor Shelton says, it endures the 

 winters and resists drought perfectly, making three or four times 

 as much pasture or hay as does its near relative, Kentucky blue 

 grass. He is very hopeful of this grass. 



AGEOSTIS, L. 



Spikelets small, 1-fld., panicled, flower perfect, empty glumes 

 persistent below the joint, keeled, acute; floral glume shorter, 

 broad hyaline, frequently supplied with a slender awn below the 

 middle. Palea very slender, hyaline, short or none. Stamens 

 mostly 3. Styles distinct, very short, stigmas feathery. Cary- 

 opsis included in the floral glume, free. Annuals or perennials, 



