LAWNS 63 



the dark green of the blue-grass. In the southern portion 

 of the United States where the cUmate is too hot in sum- 

 mer for blue-grass, Bermuda-grass is the common lawn- 

 grass, except in certain localities along the coast. It is the 

 only lawn-grass that will withstand the summer condi- 

 tions on the uplands of the South. The foliage is not 

 resistant to frost, hence lawns turn brown or yellow in 

 winter, but the plants are not killed except by greater 

 cold than usually prevails south of Virginia. St. Lucie- 

 grass is a variety of Bermuda especially adapted to lawns, 

 as it is fine in texture. This form is much used in Florida. 



81. Less important lawn -grasses. — St. Augustine- 

 grass is a coarse-leaved species used on moist, mucky soil 

 of the lower coastal region. It is in use as far north as 

 Wilmington, North Carolina. As the seed is not on the 

 market it is propagated by cuttings. 



Carpet-grass is another species, with comparatively 

 coarse foliage and creeping or stoloniferous stems, adapted 

 to the moist region of the Gulf coast. It occurs naturally 

 there and tends to invade the open moist grassland of 

 pastures and lawns. The seed is not on the market but 

 the plant may be propagated by cuttings. 



Canada blue-grass is sometimes used on sterile clay or 

 lime-poor soils of the humid regions, where blue-grass 

 does not thrive. 



Fescue grasses are rarely used alone but are often 

 sown in mixtures. Various-leaved fescue is used under 

 trees on lawns as it thrives better than other grasses in 

 partial shade. All the fescues used for lawn mixtures, red 

 fescue, hard fescue, sheep's fescue, firm-leaved fescue and 

 various-leaved fescue have short, firm leaves that require 

 little cutting, but they are all bunch grasses and it is diffi- 

 cult to produce with them a uniform turf. 



