CHARACTERISTICS OF BLUE-GRASS 353 



The seed is harvested by cutting very high with a self-binder, leaving 

 most of the clover uncut. The field is then mowed later, giving a 

 mixture of orchard-grass and clover, which makes satisfactory hay. 

 These fields also furnish excellent pasture late in the fall. Pastur- 

 age does not seem to injure the orchard-grass, either for seed or 

 for hay purposes. 



In permanent pasture mixtures, usually not more than five 

 pounds of orchard-grass are used per acre. It is a very long lived 

 and persistent grass. The bunches very slowly spread, and on land 

 suited to orchard-grass it will usually come to be dominant in time. 



THE BLUE-GRASSES 



We have two agricultural grasses known as blue-grass. Kentucky 

 blue-grass (Fig. 158) is the more extensively grown and the more 

 valuable. Canadian blue-grass is much less productive, but will 

 grow on some soils where the Kentucky blue-grass fails. Both are 

 primarily pasture grasses and are very seldom cultivated for hay 

 purposes. 



Kentucky Blue-grass Origin and History. Kentucky blue- 

 grass, generally known simply as blue-grass, and occasionally as June 

 grass, is of European origin. It was early introduced into this coun- 

 try from Europe, and spread rapidly, especially in the limestone 

 regions. It is now found growing wild through most of North 

 America, except the southern portion. The grass is characteristic 

 of the limestone region in Kentucky, from which it derives the name. 



Soil and Climatic Adaptations. Blue-grass prefers a rather 

 cool, humid climate, and moist, well-watered soil. While its range 

 extends 200 to 300 miles south of the timothy region, it is not well 

 adapted to the Gulf States. During hot, dry weather, blue-grass 

 usually becomes dormant, and the leaves may entirely die and dry 

 up. With the coming of fall rains and cool weather, it quickly re- 

 vives and will grow well up into the winter. 



Blue-grass is decidedly partial to limestone soils. It probably 

 does not require as much lime as red clover or alfalfa, but is not 

 generally considered a valuable grass outside of limestone regions. 



Characteristics of Blue-grass. Blue-grass is a rather fine- 

 stemmed grass, with a strong underground root system. It spreads 

 23 



