96 FARM GRASSES OF THE UNITED STATES 



North, and it is not so particular as to soils in that re- 

 gion as it is in the South, where the long, hot summer 

 season is fatal to it, except under the most favorable 

 conditions. In the extreme southern portion of its 

 range it is decidedly shade loving, and even as far 

 north as Minnesota it luxuriates in the shade of open 

 woodlands. The writer has seen large areas of blue- 

 grass cut for hay in woodlands in the vicinity of Min- 

 neapolis. It makes excellent hay, but the yield is low. 



BLUE-GRASS PASTURES 



While blue-grass is more generally distributed over 

 the northeastern portion of the United States than any 

 other grass except timothy, it is only in comparatively 

 limited areas that it is sufficiently productive to induce 

 farmers to devote their best lands to it. Fine blue-grass 

 pastures are common in the Blue-Grass Region of Ken- 

 tucky, in central and northern Missouri, eastern Kan- 

 sas, on alluvial soils in eastern Nebraska, in all of Iowa 

 (except the north western portion), in Illinois, Indiana, 

 and Ohio. Elsewhere they are less frequently seen, and 

 much of the land occupied by blue-grass is so overgrown 

 with weeds and brush, and so badly managed generally, 

 as to be of little value. No grass equals it for pasture 

 purposes in open woodlands and on rough, untillable 

 land throughout its range, but on good arable land, 

 where the ordinary crops can be grown, its usefulness 

 is limited to comparatively small areas. Yet it is in just 

 these areas that the best horses and cattle are found in 

 this country. 



In the northern portions of its range blue-grass f ur- 

 nishes most feed in spring and fall, remaining dormant 



