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better in the sluide than when I'nlly ex])()se(l to the sunshine, 

 hut beeause it will do belter in the shade tlian most other 

 grasses. If it can be established in light soils it will do bet- 

 ter there than either the timothy or the redtop, and it is 

 very persistent. In the writer's experience it has not seemed 

 to yield to the pressure from any other competing species. 

 It is often asserted that orchard grass is tough, woody or 

 wiry; and, as this grass is frequently handled, this is un- 

 doubtedly true. This seems, however, to be due to the fact 

 that it is not cut sufficiently early. It should not stand later 

 than the period of very early bloom, and this stage is sonie- 

 times reached in this latitude as early as the 5tli to the 10th of 

 June. Few farmers are ready to begin haying at this time. 

 Orchard grass deteriorates after blooming more rapidly than 

 most species, and, as a consequence, orchard grass hay, often 

 cut as late as the last of June, is of poor quality. Orchard 

 grass starts quickly after being cut, but seldom comes into 

 flower a second time during one season. Orchard grass 

 rowen consists almost exclusively of very long, rather coarse 

 leaves, springing from the ground ; and, like the first crop, 

 the rowen crop is not infrequently allowed to stand until 

 these leaves have become in considerable measure brown or 

 rusted, when it is somewhat inferior in quality. 



Kentucky Blue-grass. — This species, know^n in some sec- 

 tions of the State as June grass, bears a general resemblance 

 to redtop, although close inspection shows the two species 

 to be in many respects quite different. Kentucky blue-grass 

 produces a much larger proportion of leaves starting directly 

 from the root than does redtop, and at the same time pro- 

 duces relatively far less stem and flower. It is also much 

 earlier. Kentucky blue-grass has abundant underground 

 stems, and in time forms a very close, velvety turf. It is 

 one of the most valuable of pasture grasses, but is not a 

 variety of the first importance for mowings, as there is little 

 top. Kentucky blue-grass, further, has the very bad habit 

 of producing relatively little second growth. In mowings 

 it may be regarded as useful in filling in between larger and 

 coarser species; but a mowing consisting largely of Ken- 



