126 FIELD AND GARDEN PRODUCTS 



better pasture grass for dry and poor soils, particularly in the Eastern 

 and Middle States. It is especially valuable for dairy pastures ; cows 

 feeding on it yield the richest milk and finest butter. Kentucky 

 Blue-grass. (See hay.) Rough-stalked Meadow-grass (Poa tri- 

 vialis). An erect perennial, closely related to Kentucky Blue-grass, 

 from which it differs in having no conspicuous rootstock and the stem 

 distinctly rough below the panicle. It succeeds best where the cli- 

 mate and soil are rather moist and cool, but is not adapted to dry soil. 

 Rye (Secale cereale). An annual, 4 to 6 feet high, with flat leaves 

 and a terminal, somewhat flattened, bearded spike 4 to 6 inches long. 

 (See cereals.) St. Augustine : grass (Stenotaphrum dimidiatum) . 

 This grass has a wide distribution, being found in the tropical and 

 warmer temperate regions of both the Old and New World. In New 

 South Wales it is known as Buffalo-grass, and in Jamaica it is called 

 Pimento-grass. It grows upon every variety of soil, from the appar- 

 ently sterile sand dunes to heavy clays, but is rarely found far away 

 from the coast. The flattened stems emit fibrous roots at every joint, 

 where they also readily separate, each piece becoming a ne\v center 

 of growth. St. Augustine-grass grows along our ocean shores as far 

 north as South Carolina, and is extensively used for lawns in Charles- 

 ton, S. C., and cities in the South near the coast. 



Lawn Grasses. Sea-coast Bent (Agrostis coarctata). A creep- 

 ing perennial with slender culms, the upright branches 1 foot high, 

 short and narrow flat leaves, and densely flowered panicles 2 to 4 

 inches long. It grows in damp soils and sands along the sea coast 

 from Newfoundland to New Jersey, often occurring where constantly 

 drenched by the flying salt spray. It is a fine-leafed, excellent turf- 

 forming species, valuable for lawns. A similar if not identical species 

 is common in western Oregon and Washington. Rhode Island bent, 

 or dog-grass (Agrostis canina). A grass usually of low size, 6 to 12 

 inches high, with slender culms, and a light, flexible, expanded 

 panicle, and with a perplexing variety of forms. There are several 

 varieties growing in mountainous regions throughout the United 

 States, and in Europe. It forms a close sod, and affords considerable 

 pasturage in those regions. Various leafed Fescue (Festuca hetero- 

 phylla). A rather slender European grass, 2 to 4 feet high, with 

 very narrow root-leaves, and narrow but flat culm leaves. It is a 

 perennial, closely related to Creeping Fescue, of which it has been 

 made a variety by some authors. It makes its best growth on low- 

 lying lands which are not too dry, but upon good soil it withstands 

 protracted periods of drought very well. Mexican Lawn-grass (Four- 

 niera mexicana) . A low, extensively creeping grass that grows in the 

 mountain valleys of western Mexico. Stock eat it w r ith avidity. An 

 excellent lawn and pasture grass for subtropical regions. Mexican 

 Lawn-grass (Opizia stolonifera) . A creeping grass, the very slender, 

 prostrate stems sending up leafy tufts 1 to 4 inches high. Similar in 

 nabit to Bermuda, but more delicate. Growing close to the ground, 

 it forms a thick sod over all exposed surfaces, even over the cobble- 

 stones in the streets of towns. It is used in the public squares with 

 good effect. By regular watering it is easily kept green, and but little 



