80 
and affords excellent forage. There are several varieties of this grass in the 
Rocky Mountains and the Northwest, some of them growing upon the dry foot- 
hills and bench lands. The larger forms are well adapted for hay. It is less 
productive than many others, and its — is not recommended, excepting 
in shady parks or open woodlands where an increase of ees is desired, or in 
shaded lawns, and then only in the Northern i | Middle State 
Poa pratensis Linn. Kentucky Blue-srass; Blue-grass (in Kentucky and Ten- 
nessee); Green-grass; June-grass (in New England); Smooth Meadow-grass; 
Common Spear-grass; Spear-grass; English-grass; Smooth-stalked Meadow-grass. 
(Fig. 74.) 
This is d native throughout the temperate regions of the northern hemi- 
sphere. It ranges from Labrador to South Carolina, westward to the Pacific 
8 ana northward to Alaska. In the limestone regions of Kentucky and 
Tennessee it attains its greatest perfection 
N ji taining some lime, in order to yield profit- 
4 
chiefly in the breadth and length of the 
leaves, particularly those at the base of the 
stem. Itisnot so well adapted for the pro- 
duction of hay as it is for pasturage. It 
should enter into all mixtures designed for 
iun manufacture of the finer kinds of Leg- 
horn hats. Good and well-cleaned seed 
below this figure. When used for lawns, 
sow at the rate of 3 bushels per acre. Ac- 
cording to Stebler and Schroeter, the seeds 
should never be covered, but only rolled 
after sowing, because they germinate better 
in the light than in darkness. 
Poa serotina Ehrh. False Red-top; Fowl Meadow-grass; Dmuck-grass; Swamp 
Wire-grass. 
Fic. 74 —Kentucky Blue-grass. (Poa pra- 
tensis.) 
A native of northern Europe and the northern portions of our own country, growing 
naturally in wet meadows and along the low banks of streams. It attains the 
height of 2 to 3 feet, or even 4 feet in rich, moist soils, and has an expanded, 
nodding panicle of rather small, purplish or “bronzed” spikelets. It is found 
in nearly all parts of New England, and often forms a very considerable and 
valued portion of the native hay of the low meadows. It has been cultivated 
to some extent, but should only be used in mixtures, as it does not make a good 
sod when sown alone. It blooms in July and MNA 
Poa sudetica Haenke. Silesian Meadow-grass. 
A broad-leafed, coarse, and rather stiff Poa, with stems 2 to 3 feet high. It is a 
