68 

 Mr. J, S. Gould, of Few York, says : 



I have found it to grow on almost every kind of soil, but it attains the greatest 

 perfection in a rich, moist one. It is one of tliose grasses that thrive best when 

 combined with others; it will not make a superior turf of itself, but it adds much 

 to the value of a sward from its nutritive qualities and powers of early and late 

 growth. As it perfects an abundance of seed it may be easily propagated. 



Professor Phares, ot Mississippi, says : 



In portions of the Western States the grass has for some years been very highly 

 recommended. In the Eastern States it has been cultivated for one hundred and 

 fifty years or longer and valued highly. Jared Elliott, in 1749, spoke of it as grow- 

 ing tall and thick, making a more soft and pliable hay than Timothy and better 

 adapted for pressing and shipping for use of horses on shipboard. He says it makes 

 a thick abundant growth on laud more moist than is adapted to common upland 

 grasses, and may be mowed any time from June to October, as it never becomes so 

 coarse and hard, but the stalk is sweet and tender and eaten without waste. It has 

 not been sufficiently cultivated in the Southern States, so far as I am aware, to know 

 how long a meadow set with it may remain profitable. It is, however, worthy of 

 extended trial. 



Mr. Charles L. Flint says : 



It grows abundantly in almost every part of New England, especially where it has 

 been introduced and cultivated in suitable ground, such as the borders of rivers and 

 intervals occasionally flooded. It never grows so coarse or hard but that the stalk 

 is sweet and tender, and eaten without waste. It is easily made into hay, and is a 

 nutritive and valuable grass. 



(Plate 76.) 



Poa tenuifolia. 



This species, in several varieties, is common in California, Oregon, 

 Montana, etc., and is one of the numerous bunch grasses referred to in 

 the accounts of the wild pasturage of that country. The foliage of some 

 forms is scanty, but of others the radical leaves are long and abundant. 

 It is stated that the Indians gather its seeds for food. (Plate 77.) 



Poa trivialis (Rough-stalked- Meadow Grass). 



This species very much resembles the Poa pratensis. It is distin- 

 guished chiefly by its having rough sheaths, by its long, pointed ligules, 

 its fibrous roots, and the smooth, marginal nerves of the flowering 

 glumes, whereas in Poa pratensis the sheaths are smooth, the ligules 

 obtuse, the root stock running, and the marginal nerves of the flowering 

 glumes are hairy. 



It has been little cultivated by itself in this country, but is sometimes 

 found in low meadows or on the banks of shaded streams. It flourishes 

 best in low or wet ground and in shaded situations, and is not so well 

 adapted to general cultivation as the blue grass. 



Professor Phares, of Mississippi, says : 



It is especially adapted to wood pastures, as it delights in shade, banks of streams, 

 and moist ground generally. It bears tramping, and is an excellent pasture grass. 

 It makes a good mixture with redtop and tall oat grass, and with other pasture 

 grasses. 



