NORTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 



151 



XLOPECURUS PRATENSIS MEADOW FOXTAIL GRASS. (Fig. TV) 



Its blossoms are arranged in dense cyl- 

 indrical spikes, quite similar to the timo- 

 thy, but may be distinguished from it 

 by having one paleas. Its stem is erect, 

 smooth, and from two to three feet high. 

 The spike is shorter than the spike of the 

 phleum pratense, and is also softer. 



This grass has received but little atten- 

 tion in this country. It is esteemed in 

 England, where it is a native, though it 

 is indigenous to nearly every country in 

 Europe. This grass is specially adapted 

 to pasturage, as it vegetates with great 

 luxuriance, and starts up vigorously when 

 eaten off by sheep or cattle. It produ- 

 ces seed abundantly, and hence stocks 

 itself; moreover, it bears forcing and ir- 

 rigation. It is late in arriving at matu- 

 rity requiring full three or four years 

 to come to perfection and hence is not 

 well adapted to an alternate husbandry. 

 In one or two respects it is more valua- 

 ble than timothy, as it yields a large af- 

 ter-math, whereas the timothy yields but 

 a small one, unless it is growing under 

 the most favorable circumstances. Mea- 

 dow foxtail forms a good sward and hence 

 for permanent pasturage it is eminently 

 adapted. 



This grass too, is better adapted to gen- 

 eral cultivation than the timothy as it ear- 

 ly grows rapidly, and thrives well on all 

 soils, except on very dry sands. It, how- 

 ever, thrives best on rich, moist, strong 

 soils, and its nutritive matter increases 

 in proportion to the strength of soil on which it is grown. It 

 grows in the New England, the Middle States, Ohio and Ma- 

 ryland and it is believed that it will grow well in the South- 



