68 FODDER AND PASTURE PLANTS. 



growth is insignificant. As a pasture grass it is of considerable value. 

 It makes a vigorous and rapid growth and stands tramping well. 



Seed: In central Europe the seed of Rough-stalked Meadow 

 Grass is generally secured from wild plants, in which case it is simply 

 stripped off by hand when ripe. In Denmark the seed is grown for 

 commerce on a comparatively large scale. The same field is har- 

 vested from two to four years. Fifteen to twenty pounds of seed 

 per acre are sown as a rule. 



Quality of seed : The seeds are provided with cobweb-like hairs 

 similar to those of Kentucky Blue Grass and the seeds are alike 

 in other respects, the only difference being that in the seed of Rough- 

 stalked Meadow Grass the glumes have more prominent nerves. 



The seed of Kentucky Blue Grass being much cheaper, it is 

 often used as a substitute for Rough-stalked Meadow Grass. As a 

 matter of fact, pure seed of the latter is difficult to obtain. 



WOOD MEADOW GRASS {Poa nemoralis L.) 



Botanical description: Wood Meadow Grass is perennial, 

 with a short rootstock, and grows in loose tufts. The tufts consist 

 chiefly of flower-bearing stems, sterile, leafy shoots being developed 

 late in the season, usually after the seed is ripe. The stems are more 

 slender than in the other species of Poa herein described, and the 

 stem leaves are much longer. The leaves are very narrow, usually 

 about as broad as the stem, and their ligule is extremely short or 

 even wanting. The panicle is thin, oblong to egg-shaped when in 

 bloom, but later contracted and narrow. The spikelets are one- 

 coloured, generally green to bright brownish. They contain one to 

 five flowers. 



Geographical distribution : Wood Meadow Grass is indigenous 

 to Europe and temperate Asia and is claimed to be a native of Canada. 

 This, however, is doubtful, the Canadian plants generally named 

 Poa nemoralis being widely different from the true European type. 

 Thus, the Canadian Poa nemoralis is found in meadows, along 

 borders of woods, and even on the open prairie. The true Wood 

 Meadow Grass occurs in woods and will not thrive in exposed places, 

 at least not on open prairies. It is especially common in beech woods, 

 where the shade is heavy, or under other deciduous trees. 



Agricultural value: Wood Meadow Grass, being a resident of 

 shady localities, is evidently of no agricultural value, either for hay 



