102 Rough- stalked Meadow Grass. 



which have culms only 1 foot or less in length. Mr. 

 J. T. Gould, of New York, is quoted by Dr. Vasey as 

 having found it to grow in almost every kind of soil, 

 but as attaining its greatest perfection in a rich moist 

 one. Professor Phares, of Mississippi (quoted by Dr. 

 Vasey), writes that "in portions of the Western 

 States this grass has, for some years, been very 

 highly recommended," and that "in the Eastern States 

 it has been cultivated for 150 years or longer, and 

 highly valued." Jared Elliott, writing in 1749, spoke 

 of it as growing tall and thick, making a more soft 

 and pliable hay than timothy, and better adapted for 

 pressing and shipping for use of horses on shipboard. 

 He says that it never becomes so coarse and hard, 

 but the stalk is sweet and tender and eaten without 

 waste, and another writer quoted by Dr. Vasey, Mr. 

 Charles L. Flint, testifies to the same effect. The 

 tenderness of the stems is most remarkable. On one 

 occasion I had sheaves of this grass cut in a thoroughly 

 ripened state, as the grass was grown for the sake of 

 the seed, and yet my cows ate up with relish every 

 part of the grass after the seed had been threshed 

 out. The stems, however dry, are so tender that they 

 break asunder with a slight twitch of the fingers. 

 The grass, when allowed to grow tall, and by itself, 

 is so tender that it is liable to be laid by wind and 

 rain, but if it were mingled with a sufficient pro- 

 portion of timothy to keep it erect I see no reason 

 why it should not be then grown for hay. 



Poa trivialis (rough-stalked meadow grass) is well 

 known to be a very valuable grass in certain situations, 

 and, after writing at length on it, Sinclair concludes 

 " that the Poa trivialis, though highly valuable as a 

 permanent pasture grass on rich and sheltered soils, 

 is but little adapted for the alternate husbandry, and 

 unprofitable for any purpose on dry exposed situations." 

 Elsewhere he says that on such situations " it yearly 

 diminishes, and ultimately dies ofi', not unfrequently in 



