100 



AMERICAN AGRICULTURE. 



seems to be its natural element, and it flourishes only in a 

 rich upland. 



THE PVOUGHISH MEADOW GRASS (P. trivialis Fig. 7), 

 has the appearance of the poo, pratensis, but its stalk feels 

 rough to the touch, while the other is smooth. It has the 

 further difference, of preferring moist or wet loams or clay. 

 It yields well and affords good hay and pasture. 



FLAT-STALKED MEADOW OR BLUE GRASS (P. compressa), 

 is an early dwarfish grass, which abounds in the middle and 

 northern States. It is tenacious of its foothold wherever it 

 intrudes. It possesses little merit as hay, but is valuable for 

 pasture, affording as it does, a close covering to the ground, 

 and yielding much in a small compass. 



FIG. 8. 



FIG. 9. 



FIR. 10. 



THE ANNUAL MEADOW GRASS (P. annua, Fig. 8). This 

 grass flourishes in most soils, and in nearly all situations. 

 It affords an early and nutritive herbage, and is relished by 

 all animals. It is perpetually flowering, and affords -an 

 abundance of rich seeds. It is hardy and self-propagating, 

 and seldom requires to be sown, but springs up wherever 

 the ground is uncultivated. 



NARROW-LEAVED MEADOW (P. angustifolia, Fig. 9). 

 This is an early pasture grass, throwing out a profusion of 

 slender leaves. It flowers late, and before it has reached this 

 point of its maturity, it is liable to rust, which diminishes its 

 value for hay. It is for this reason, as well as its diminu- 

 tive size., much better adapted to pasture. 



RED TOP, HERDS' GRASS, FOUL MEADOW, OR FINE BENT 

 (Agrostis vidgaris, Fig. 10), is a hardy, luxuriant grass, 



