80 GRASSES AND HOW TO GROW THEM. 



top. The root-stocks are creeping, and when well set 

 they fill the sod with a close dense turf on a favorable 

 soil, hut it possesses the soil somewhat slowly, hence, 

 two or three years must usually transpire before it thus 

 possesses the soil. Poa compressa grows to the height 

 of about 1 foot, but, through liberal fertilizing may be 

 grown to the height of 2 or even 3 feet. The stems are 

 upright and flattened and are nearly solid. The pani- 

 cle is short and compact, but expands at the flowering 

 season. The leaves are short and fairly numerous. 

 The whole plant is of a dark bluish green color, and 

 the stems retain their color after the seeds have matured. 

 The root-stocks are creeping but under American condi- 

 tions do not fill the soil so completely as those of the 

 other variety. 



Poa pratensis begins to grow reasonably early in the 

 spring and is at its best for pasture in the month of 

 May or June. It pushes up its seed-heads rapidly and 

 evenly and quickly matures its seed. The heads and 

 stems soon assume a yellow tint, and growth even of the 

 leaves practically ceases, if the weather is dry, until 

 the early fall rains come. The leaves then push out 

 again with much vigor and continue to grow until frost 

 comes, and where the climate is not severe they keep 

 green all winter. Poa compressa does not start quite 

 as early as Poa pratensis in the spring. It grows more 

 slowly and comes into flower several weeks later. It 

 usually matures seed in July. While it retains its 

 greenness for a long period, it does not grow so freely 

 in the autumn as Poa pratensis. Nevertheless under 

 favorable conditions it also furnishes good winter pas- 

 ture. 



