312 GRASSES AND LEGUMES 



ing bunch grass. Sown at ordinary rate of seeding timothy forms a 

 fair sod. Redtop varies a great deal, with a tendency to form stolons, 

 and always forms a good sod. 



For convenient reference the common grasses may be grouped as 

 follows, though the line of demarcation is not sharp : 



Bunch grasses: Orchard-grass, tall oat-grass, sheep fescue, red 

 'fescue, annual rye-grass, meadow fescue. 



Semi-bunch grasses : Timothy, perennial rye-grass, wheat-grass. 



Sod grasses: Eedtop, brome-grass, Bermuda grass, Kentucky 

 blue-grass, Canada blue-grass, bent grass. 



Palatability of Grasses. We say a grass is palatable when 

 cattle eat it readily and appear to thrive. Much chemical study has 

 been made of grasses, but no relation has been found between chem- 

 ical analysis and palatability. In fact, both the palatable and un- 

 palatable grasses have very much the same chemical analysis. 



Generally the better grasses have softer and more pliable leaves 

 and stems, which is about as near a distinction as can be made. 



Change in Palatability. All young grass is palatable and ap- 

 pears to be readily eaten by stock. However, even among young 

 grasses some distinction is noted where the pasture is of mixed 

 grasses. For example, in mixed blue-grass and redtop pasture, cattle 

 usually choose the young blue-grass. If the pasture is all of redtop, 

 however, cattle eat it and thrive. 



While all young grass appears to be good, a change is noted as 

 grasses mature. Some grasses retain palatability until well grown, 

 and these usually make good hay, while others rapidly deteriorate in 

 quality after the blossoming period. 



For convenience we may roughly group the grasses into two 

 classes, as follows : 



1. Grasses that retain quality well after blossoming period: 

 Timothy, brome-grass, wheat-grass, meadow fescue, rye-grasses. 



2. Grasses that rapidly lose quality after blossoming period: 

 Orchard-grass, redtop, meadow oat-grass, Kentucky blue-grass, 

 sheep fescue. 



However, climate and soil conditions have something to do with 

 retaining quality. In general, grasses retain quality longer on moist 

 soils or in a humid climate than on dry soil or in a dry climate. 



