CH. vm] Meadow-grasses 159 



of a very fine character and of a pleasing green colour from a pure 

 seeding of this plant though the turf will not stand hard wear. 

 For this purpose the soil must be in a fine condition and the seed 

 thickly sown. The seed is not usually to be bought on the market, 

 but sufficient for this purpose may be gathered by hand. When 

 used for a lawn the plants must be prevented from seeding by 

 the constant use of the mower. 



Poa nemoralis, L. 



For Botanical description see p. 125. 



Wood Meadow-grass is indigenous to most of Europe and the 

 temperate parts of Asia. It is frequent in Britain in woods and 

 moist shady places on all kinds of soil. It is a perennial, and pro- 

 duces a considerable amount of "bottom" growth on good soils. 

 On this account it might be more frequently included in mixtures 

 for permanent grass if the seed could be more easily obtained. 

 The seed is however expensive, and it is therefore only commonly 

 used with other grasses for lawns and ornamental grounds. As 

 the leaf-blades are narrow and of a rich green colour it is admirably 

 adapted for this purpose, especially where there is much shade. 



Commercial Seed. Owing to its high cost the seed is liable to 

 adulteration. Sometimes the cheaper seeds of Poa pratensis or 

 other species of Poas are mixed with it, and occasionally Poa 

 fiava, L. (Foul Meadow-grass) from North America has been 

 entirely substituted for it. The usual weed impurities present 

 are Air a ccespitosa, A. flexuosa, Hieracium Pilosella and Luzula sps. 

 (see Figs. 40, 41, 173 and 175). Of cultivated plants the seeds of 

 Hard Fescue, Fine-leaved Fescue and Cock's-foot occur. 



In properly cleaned samples there should not be more than 

 five to ten per cent, of chaff, or more than one per cent, of weed 

 seeds. The Germination should reach 40 to 50 per cent, in seven 

 days, and 70 to 85 per cent, in 28 days. 



Poa pratensis, L. 



For Botanical description see p. 127. 



Smooth-stalked Meadow-grass is indigenous to the whole of 

 Europe and Northern Asia. It forms a large proportion of the 

 herbage on the prairies of North America, and is also largely 



