204 FARM GRASSES OF THE UNITED STATES 
red fescue (F. rubra), and fine-leaved fescue (F. Zenuz- 
folia). Most of these, except red fescue, are probably 
forms of sheep’s fescue. Various-leaved fescue and 
hard fescue are recommended.for shady lawns. All 
have fine, needle-like leaves, which need but little cut- 
ting, as their growth is slow and they reach but a few 
inches in hight. Most of them are bunchy in habit, 
and must be sown thickly to form a turf. 
Italian rye-grass (Lolium ttalicum ,.). This is not 
a true lawn grass, but is often used in mixtures because 
of its hardiness and very rapid growth, which enable it 
to quickly cover bare ground with a pleasing coat of 
green. It is short-lived, and will be seen but little after 
the second year. 
Kentucky blue-grass (Poa pratensis I,.). This is 
the king of lawn grasses for the greater part of this 
country, and is held to be the standard of color and 
quality of turf. From the Atlantic to the Pacific, ex- 
ceptin the extreme South, it is successfully grown with 
uniform and pleasing results. ‘To the low moist clays 
of theimmediate Atlantic Coast it is not as well adapted 
as redtop or creeping bent, and at lower altitudes than 
the Piedmont region of the South it must give way to 
Bermuda grass or other creeping species. Blue-grass 
does not reach its best development in the first year 
from seed, but gradually produces a splendid and dur- 
able sward. It does not do well in heavy shade, but is 
suitable for parks and partly shaded areas. Itis not . 
adapted to acid soils, but prefers those of limestone 
origin. 
Rough-stalked meadow-grass (Poa trivialis L.) and 
wood meadow-grass (Poa nemoralis I,.) are two species 
