164 MAINE STATE COLLEGE 



10. Rougii-Stalked INIeadow Grass. — As its uarae implies 

 this is a grass growing in wet meadows, liaving a rongli stem, by 

 which it may be distinguished from most of its genus. It blos- 

 somed June 28, and measured 27 inches, which is below its nat- 

 ural height. It is recommended for shady pastures. 



11. English Blue Gkass. — A grass found growing on dry, 

 sandy or gravelly knolls, and hence of some value for dry 

 pastures. It is sometimes called Wire grass as it has a tough, 

 hard stem which is difficult to cut. The spike has a purplish or 

 bluish tinge, and the leaves are a bluish-green, so that it well 

 deserves the name of Blue gi-ass. It grew larger than it is usually 

 found in its wild state, being 20 inches high. Blossomed June 30. 



12. Fowl Meadov^^ Grass. — This species is well known to 

 farmers who have swampy meadows. It produces a heavy crop 

 of hay, often three tons or more to the acre. Unlike most grasses 

 it keeps green long after blossoming. It has a tendency to lodge 

 badly, but instead of decaying it sends up shoots from the joints, 

 which keep the stalks green. It should be harvested before lodg- 

 ing, however, as it is then much easier to cut. This grass gen- 

 erally gives way in time to the coarser water grasses and sedges, 

 and needs to be resown. It is perhaps the most valuable of our 

 wet meadow grasses. It grew in dry soil 30 inches high, and 

 blossomed June 30. 



13. 14, 15. Brome Grasses. — The seeds of all these grasses 

 were poor and but few plants were obtained. The cheat or chess, 

 often found growing as a weed in grain fields, belongs to this 

 genus. The only one that has any claim as a cultivated grass 

 is the Rescue grass, which is grown for winter pasturage in the 

 south. It would be of no value here. The farmer should treat 

 them as weeds, and prevent them from getting a foot-hold in his 

 fields, if possible. 



16. Slender Foxtail. — The Foxtail grasses bear some resem- 

 blance to Timothy, having, like it, a cylindrical spike. They 

 grow naturally in moist bottom lands. This species has purplish 

 heads and the stalks near the ground are of the same color. It 

 blossomed early, June 13, and made a good growth for dry soil, 

 22 inches. It is not generally recommended but we consider it 

 worth a trial. 



17. Rye Grass. — A perennial grass cultivated for many years 

 in Europe, and considered one of their best grasses, but in this 



