THE TRUTH ABOUT LAWN MIXTURES 95 



as shaded the rough-stalked meadow grass 

 (Poa trivialis) should be substituted for the 

 fescue. Orchard grass is occasionally in- 

 cluded in shade mixtures, but it can be omit- 

 ted to advantage, for it is a coarse-leaved 

 plant and makes a tuft, not an even sward. 



ON SANDY SOIL 



As has been indicated, the species of Agros- 

 tis are specially adapted to sandy situations. 

 The Rhode Island bent grass {A. canina) and 

 the creeping bent or fiorin (A. alba, var. stoloni- 

 fera) are the foundation of mixtures for such 

 soils, although unless the land shows an acid 

 reaction it would be well to include some Ken- 

 tucky blue grass in the mixture, just because 

 if it will make a stand the general appearance 

 of the lawn is improved by just so much. 

 The colour of the bent lacks the richness of 

 the blue grass. The red top {A. alba, var. 

 vulgaris), though adapted to moist clay soil, 

 is often included in mixtures for sandy land 

 because of its ability to make a satisfactory 

 growth upon a slightly acid soil. 



OTHER SPECIAL FEATURES 



Other grasses are put into mixtures for 

 more or less fancy purposes, and cannot be 



