152 A MANUAL OF FARM GRASSES 



tions are seldom entirely met, consequently these grasses 

 are not often used alone for a lawn. 



The only grasses which perfectly meet the require- 

 ments of a lawn are Kentucky bluegrass and the bent 

 grasses. The conditions favorable to the growth of the 

 former are prevalent over a much wider area, for which 

 reason Kentucky bluegrass may be said to be our best 

 lawn grass. Bermuda meets all the requirements of a 

 lawn grass except that of color. The light green is not 

 so pleasing to the eye as the dark green of bluegrass. 

 St. Augustine and carpet grass are too coarse for ^an 

 ideal lawn grass. Rye grass and the fescue grasses do 

 not form rootstocks or stolons and hence do not produce 

 a firm sod. The former, much used for parks, is rather 

 coarse for a lawn. 



Mixtures of grasses are often recommended for lawns. 

 The chief objection to mixtures is that the texture and 

 color of the lawn are not uniform. The different species 

 of grasses (and white clover) differ in color and fineness 

 of foliage. If the species were mixed on the lawn with 

 perfect uniformity, the lawn itself would appear uni- 

 form in texture and color. But in practice this is im- 

 possible of accomplishment. The different species 

 sooner or later appear as spots or areas and these destroy 

 the uniformity. 



On the other hand, mixtures have this important 

 advantage, that a more complete and uniform stand of 

 grass can be obtained. Each species of the mixture 

 thrives on the soil best suited to its growth, hence the 

 soil is likely to be more completely covered. Mixtures 

 are especially to be recommended for parks and other 



