QUESTIONS 315 



Permanent Grasses. By permanent is meant that under fair 

 environment will continue without deterioration or giving away to 

 weeds. Blue-grass is perhaps the best example. A good blue-grass 

 sod will withstand heavy pasturage for a long period and on good 

 soils will appear even to grow better. This is probably due to the 

 strong underground rhizomes, which constantly produce a new crop 

 of young plants. This is characteristic of brome-grass, redtop, and 

 Canada blue-grass, and apparently of all fairly permanent grasses. 



White clover propagates in the same way, but appears to be very 

 sensitive to heat and drought. While it seldom entirely disappears 

 when once established, the white clover will often largely disappear 

 during a period of dry years, to return when rain is abundant. 



EXERCISES 



Outline for Describing Grasses and Millets. 1 This outline calls at- 

 tention to the distinguishing characteristics of each grass. 



The stem and leaves: 



Height 



Color of stem 



Color of leaves 



Number of leaves 



Head: 



Awned or awnless 



Panicled, compact, or spiked 



Size (give length and diameter) 



Color of awns 



Color of chaff 



Root: 



Does it spread from rootstocks ? 



Is it a sod-forming or bunch grass ? 



Seeds: 



Size (give average length in inches) 



Color ( general color ) 



General Notes: 



Is seed free or inclosed in scales ? 



Weight per bushel 



Amount sown per acre 



Vitality 



Drawings of Seeds. Make drawing from convex side. Make drawing 

 of cross section. 



QUESTIONS 



1. Define grasses. 



2. How many grasses are there in the world? In the United States? In 



cultivation? 



3. State clearly the essential qualifications of a cultivated grass. 



1 From the author's " Examining and Grading Grains," published by 

 Ginn & Co. 



