THE GRASSES— S.-S. MEADOW GRASS. 91 



Charles Johnson says it produces abundant foliage, 

 and at an earlier season than most of our other common 

 meadow and pasture grasses, and — being a favourite 

 food with cattle generally — might be considered one of 

 the most valuable did not its creeping habit interfere 

 with the growth of others equally luxuriant and better 

 adapted for the promiscuous crop of the hayfield. Its 

 habit of early flowering has this disadvantage — that 

 its seeds are ripening while the other grasses are only 

 in blossom, and if it is not cut before the seeds are 

 ripe, a loss of more than one-fourth of its produce is 

 sustained. 



Lawson's Agrostographia says it is liable to be in- 

 jured by the disease called " rust," and, from its grow- 

 ing in large patches, all the other grasses within its 

 reach are destroyed. 



Dr. Steblee says it does not succeed on heavy stiff 

 soils or on those that are very light and poor in vege- 

 table matter. Gives but a small produce the first year, 

 and only reaches its full development in the second or 

 third season. It does not agree well ivith clover in a 

 mixtwre. Is extensively cultivated in North America, 

 notably in the State of Kentucky ; and as it succeeds 

 best in soils that are friable, mellow, and rich in humus, 

 its presence is taken as an indication of good agricul- 

 tural land. It will succeed fairly well on bog or fen 

 land that has been well drained. Possessing a dense 

 and spreading root, and having its underground stolons 

 protected by the soil, it is able to withstand a consider- 

 able degree of heat or cold. It is an early grass and 

 flowers from end of May to middle of June, according 

 to situation of the ground. The produce of the after- 

 math is small. The plant may be distinguished from 



