61 



hence its name. It is said to be an excellent grass on good, moist, loamy 

 soils, but it is not adapted to sandy or dry soils. It multiplies itself 

 greatly by seed and does not throw out rhizomes and thicken by means 

 of its roots. It forms a good bottom grass in pastures. 



In England it is used for making hay as well as for grazing and is 

 said to make more hay than rye grass. The hay is very sweet and 

 nutritious and the partiality which horses, cattle and sheep show for it is 

 a high recommendation. It will probably be a good grass for the moun- 

 tains in the extreme eastern portion of Tennessee as it delights in a moist 

 climate and sheltered situations. 



This grass is best for a mixture and should be sown with Kentucky 

 blue grass and orchard grass. It finds its most congenial situation in 

 woodland pastures and on the banks of streams. In the climate of Ten- 

 nessee it is totally unfit for hay-making, as the exposure of its roots to 

 the sunshine destroys it at once. The seed weighs 15 pounds to the 

 bushel and is free from fuzz. Half a bushel per acre is ample when sown 

 with other grasses. 



TEXAS BLUE GRASS (Poa arachnif era.) 



This grass, as its name would indicate, is a native of Texas, but it 

 is now largely distributed throughout the Southern States. It is a hardy 

 perennial and grows with great vigor. It has long leaves, creeping root- 

 stocks and narrow but densely flowered panicles. It forms a thick turf 

 and is well suited for making permanent pastures. It may be propagated 

 by the roots or seed. The latter is so woolly that it is difficult to sow. 

 The seed also sells very high, being quoteu at $3 per pound or $42 per 

 bushel. In rows two feet apart the roots may be planted one foot in the 

 rows with a certainty of the early thickening of the grass by its creeping 

 rootstocks. The roots may be depended upon much more surely than 

 the seed for getting a stand. 



Texas blue grass will grow faster and to greater height than Ken- 

 tucky blue grass. It is one of the very best pasture grasses for the ex- 

 treme south and it remains green throughout the year, even in as high 

 a latitude as Tennessee. It grows during the winter months, and blooms 

 the latter part of April or the first of May. It will stand more heat and 

 will resist a drought better than blue grass, while its capacity for grazing 

 is not surpassed by any other southern grass. Any good fertile soils and 

 especially calcareous loams will grow this grass in rank luxuriance and 

 beauty. It should take the place of Kentucky blue grass in all soils ex- 

 cept those especially adapted to the growth of the latter, but Kentucky 

 blue grass well set will endure longer than any other grass. The rich 

 soils of East Tennessee appertaining to the small valleys are well adapted 

 to the growth of Texas blue grass, as are the calcareous soils of the cen- 

 tral basin and of the highland rim. The loess formation of West Ten- 

 nessee supplies soils that will grow this grass to perfection. Having a 

 southern habitat and being of southern origin, it will not endure severe 

 freezes. 



