64 



grass will. If, docs best on u sandy loam with a porous subsoil, but will grow on a 

 sand-bank if made rich enough. When sown alone, we would sow 2 bushels to 

 the acre. From the nature of its growth thick seeding is necessary to secure the best 

 results, and we think the farmer will never regret the extra first cost of sowing two 

 bushels per acre. 



When sown thickly and properly protected from grazing it forms a close and very 

 durable turf. Nothing will hurt it except plowing. As to time of sowing, it may be 

 sown in August, September, October, February, March, or April, alone, or on wheat, 

 rye, or oats. Hay made from a mixture of this grass with clover is very nutritious, 

 second only to best Timothy hay made, falling very little behind it, while in 

 most lauds in the South the yield Avill exceed that of Timothy. 



Orchard grass is ready for grazing in the spring ten or twelve days sooner than any 

 other that affords a full bite. When grazed down and the stock turned off, it will be 

 ready for regraziug in less than half the time required for Kentucky blue grass. 



(Plate 72.) 



POA. 



Spikelets somewhat compressed, usually two to five-flowered, in a narrow or 

 loose and spreading panicle, the rhachis between the flowers glabrous or sometimes 

 hairy, the flowers generally perfect, in a few species dioscious ; outer glumes com- 

 monly shorter than the flowers, membranaceous, keeled, obtuse or acute, one to three- 

 nerved, not awned ; flowering glumes membranaceous, obtuse ar acute, five or rarely 

 seven-nerved, the intermediate nerves frequently obscure, often scarious at the apex 

 and margins, smooth or pubescent, often with a few loose or webby hairs at the 

 base ; palet about as long as the flowering glumes, prominently two-nerved or two- 

 keeled. 



Poa arachnifera (Texas Blue Grass). 



This species was first described by Dr. John Torrey in the report of 

 Captain Marcy's exploration of the Ked Kiver of Louisiana, as having 

 been found on the headwaters of the Trinity, and named Poa arach- 

 nifera from the profuse webby hairs growing about the flowers, although 

 it is found that this character is very variable, probably depending 

 somewhat on the amount of shade or exposure to which the grass is sub- 

 jected. 



Several years ago Mr. Hogan, of Texas, sent specimens of the grass 

 to this Department, and as it was shown to be a relative of the Ken- 

 tucky blue grass, Mr. Hogan adopted for the common name Texas blue 

 grass. We give some extracts from his letters relating to the grass : 



I find it spreading rapidly over the country, and I claim for it all and more in Texas 

 than is awarded to the Poa, pratensis. It seems to be indigenous to all the prairie 

 country between the Trinity River and the Brazos in our State. It blooms here about 

 the last of March, and ripens its seeds by the 15th of April. Stock of all kinds and 

 even poultry seem to prefer it to wheat, rye, or anything else grown in winter. It 

 seems to have all the characteristics of Poa pratensis, only it is much larger, and 

 therefore affords more grazing. I have known it to grow 10 inches in ten days dur- 

 ing the winter. The coldest winters do not even nip it, and although it seems to die 

 down during summer, it springs up as soon as the first rains fall in September, 

 and grows all winter. I have known it in cultivation some five years, and have never 

 been able to find a fault in it. It will bo ready for pasture in three or four weeks 

 aft<-r th< first, rains in the latter part of August or 1st of September. I have never 

 cut it for bay. Why should a man want hay when he can have green grass to feed 

 his stock on ? 



