CHAPTER VI. 



ORCHARD GRASS. 



Orchard grass (Dactylus glomeraia) is also known 

 by the name of Cocksfoot, a name frequently applied to 

 it in England from the fanciful resemblance of the clus- 

 ters of the panicle to the foot of a cockerel. The stem 

 is strong and inclines somewhat to coarseness, unless 

 when the plants grow thickly. It usually grows from 

 2 to 2^ feet high, but under favorable conditions may 

 reach from 4 to 5 feet in height. The leaves are large, 

 long and numerous. The panicle is open and spreading 

 and from 2 to 6 inches in length. The leaves are a dark 

 green in color, but the panicle is frequently tinged with 

 violet spikelets. The roots are fibrous, the fibres going 

 down deeply into the soil, which gives it considerable 

 power to withstand drought. On good soil and suitable, 

 the plants have the appearance of much strength and 

 vigor. 



Orchard grass is an annual. It is ready for pasturing 

 earlier in the spring probably than any other grass of 

 much economic importance in the United States, ex- 

 cept Russian brome grass. It comes into flower in 

 May or June according to the locality, and then quickly 

 reaches the mature stage. It continues to grow with 

 more or less vigor during much of the summer, and 

 again makes an abundant growth in the autumn as soon 



