GRASSES OF MINOR IMPORTANCE 183 
in warmer climates and on drier soils than timothy, 
it is fairly easy to secure a stand, and continues pro- 
ductive for many years. Like orchard-grass, it does 
not become sod-bound, unless the seed is allowed 
to ripen and fall, stands pasturing well, and remains 
green till late in winter. Tall meadow oat-grass 
matures exactly with orchard-grass and red clover, and 
is therefore adapted to sowing with these crops. 
VELVET-GRASS (Holcus lanatus) 
The only part of the United States in which velvet- 
grass occurs to an extent worthy of notice is on the 
Pacific Coast west of the Cascade Mountains, from 
northern California to the Canadian line. In that sec- 
tion it is indifferently called ‘‘ velvet-grass’’ and ‘‘ mes- 
quite.’’ The latter name should never be applied to 
this grass, as it is used for several other very different 
grasses in the Southwest. In England it is known by 
several names, the commonest being ‘‘ velvet-grass,’’ 
‘meadow soft grass,’’ and ‘‘ Yorkshire fog.’’? The 
word ‘‘ fog’’ in this connection is an old English word 
meaning the winter growth on meadows. Itis applied 
to this grass from its habit of producing considerable 
green herbage in winter. It is generally regarded asa 
pest on the Pacific Coast, particularly on lands that are 
very wet in winter and very dry in summer. ‘This is 
especially the case with both sandy and peaty soils on 
the Coast. It is not utilized for feed in many localities, 
but on the extensive areas of very sandy land around 
the mouth of the Columbia River, and at one or two 
points inland, it is the chief reliance, both for hay and 
for pasture. It yields ordinarily about half a ton of 
