56 FARMER'S BOOK OF GRASSES 



land and our northern States it is very highly esteemed as a 

 pasture grass. It is found naturalized or native in nearly 

 all the southern States. 



In cultivated lauds it is difficult to eradicate ; and how to de- 

 stroy it has caused more discussion at the north, than how to 

 eradicate coco and Bermuda grasses at the south. 



6. P. TRIVIAIJS, Rough -stalked Meadow Grass. 



This also much resembles the Kentucky blue grass. But it 

 may be readily distinguished by noting that it has rough sheaths, 

 with long, pointed ligules, the marginal ribs of the five-ribbed 

 outer palet not hairy, and the roots fibrous. In blue grass, the 

 sheaths are smooth, ligules obtuse, marginal ribs of outer palet 

 hairy, and roots creeping. The stems are two or three feet high. 



According to Way's analysft, it contains, albuminoids, 9.80 ; 

 fatty matters, 3.67; heat producing principles, 40.17 ; woody 

 fibre, 38.03 ; ash, 8.33, in 100 parts of the dry grass. 



This is a jmtritious grass, greatly relished by cattle, horses and 

 sheep. Although perennial and yielding a large quantity of 

 good hay, it is liable to be killed, in the south, by cutting un- 

 less succeeded by cloudy wet weather. In England and on the 

 continent this is a favorite grass, being very small on poor soils; 

 but on rich, moist loams tall, yielding a large quantity of herb- 

 age. In a meadow peculiarly well adapted to it near Salisbury 

 Plain it is said to have been found eight feet long. 



It is specially adapted to wood pastures, as if delights in shade, 

 banks of streams and moist grounds generally. It bears tramp- 

 ing and is an excellent pasture grass. It makes a good mixture 

 with red top and orchard grass, or red top and tall oat grass, and 

 with other pasture grasses. Eight to ten pounds seed may be 

 sown to the acre ; a bushel weighing fifteen pounds. 



P. NEMORALIS, Wood Meadow Grass, as the name implies, 

 prefers wooded lands; and it luxuriates in moist shaded grounds 

 or watery swamps. It has a perennial, creeping root ; erect, 

 slender, smooth stem, one and a half to two feet high, with long, 

 finely arched panicle ; and blooms in May and June. It is of 

 rank growth, succulent, nutritious, and cattle are fpnd of it. It 

 may be planted in September, October and February, four 

 pounds seed per acre. 



8. P. BREVIFOLIA, Short-leaved Spear Grass, with stem 

 leaves short, radical leaves nearly as long as the stems, is found 

 in rocky, hilly woodlands. 



9. P. ALSODES, Wood Spear Grass, with narrow, acute leaves, 

 the upper ones often sheathing the lower part of the panicle, 

 the slender branches of which are generally in threes or fours, 

 is found in hilly woods flowering in April or May. 



10. P. DEBILIS, Weak Meadow Grass, is perennial, growing 

 in rocky woodlands, flowering in April and May, with panicle 

 small, loose, few flowered, and branches slender, flexuous, in 

 Dairs o rt riDlets. 



