564 BOARD OF AGIilCULTUKK. [Pub. Doc. 



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 otlier competing species. 

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

 ^\ iry ; 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 some- 

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

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

 Orcliard 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 durino- one season. Orchard grass 

 rowen consists almost exclusively of very long, rather coarse 

 leaves, springing from the ground ; and, like the tirst 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 <|uality. 



Kentackij Blue-grass. — This species, known 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 dilferent. Kentucky blue-grass 

 produces a nuich larger proportion of leaves starting directly 

 from the root than does redtop, and at the same time i)ro- 

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

 earlier. Kentucky blue-grass has abundant underground 

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

 one of the most valuabk' of pasture grasses, but is not a 

 variety of the first inqxn-tance for mowings, as there is httlc 

 U)\^. 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 ])etween larger and 

 coarser species; but a mowing consisting largely of Ken- 

 tucky blue-grass, while giving hay of excellent (luality, is 

 not likely to produce such quantity as to prove satisfactory 

 to the best farmers. This species is best adapted to the 

 strong, retentive soils, and reaches its highest develoi)nient 



