NORTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 163 



tained by several writers that the June grass is deficient in 

 nutritive properties, that it is far inferior to timothy; yet 

 cattle do fatten upon it, and so far as observation goes, the 

 cattle that are raised and prepared for market in Kentucky, 

 are equal to any grass-fed animals seen in market. Prof. 

 Way, whose 1 analysis of this grass, have led to the unfa- 

 vorable opinions respecting its deficiency in flesh-forming 

 elements, may have analyzed specimens, which, growing in 

 England, may not have been as nutritive as those commonly 

 growing in our climate. It is certain that the composition of 

 plants are very variable under different circumstances, soils, 

 etc. ; variable also at the different periods of growth. 



In Kentucky farmers sow in September or February. Some 

 prefer a late winter or early spring sowing to save the tender 

 plant from frost. It is sown both in open ground and wood- 

 land. If sown in woodland it should not be grazed until it 

 matures seed. The seed is often mixed with timothy and 

 clover, and half a bushel of the seed of June grass is suffi- 

 cient for an acre. By mixing, the field may be fed at an 

 earlier day. Ultimately, the June grass takes full possession 

 of the field. 



POA TRIVIALIS. ROUGH MEADOW GRASS. 



Stem or culm somewhat scabrous ; leaves smooth ; narrow 

 with scabrous sheaths ; panicle equal and diffuse, somewhat 

 verticillate. Spikelets three to four flowered; glumes une- 

 qual ; scabrous at the apex; lower paleae obtuse ; pubescent 

 at base ; culm from two to three feet high. 



In England this grass is highly esteemed, and according to 

 the opinion of Mr. Curtis, an English writer, it is one of tht- 

 most valuable, both for hay and pasturage. In this country, 

 however, it does not stand so high in the estimation of agri- 

 culturists, but it is probable that it has not been so fairly 

 tested as the blue grass. Mr. Sinclair recommends it, and 

 says of it that it is superior in produce to many other grasses ; 

 it is nutritive, and oxen, horses and sheep exhibit a marked 

 partiality for it. It grows vigorously only on moist situations ; 

 when upon dry pastures it is only inconsiderable in quantify. 



