KENTUCKY BLUE GRASS. 89 



really sandy soils to the growth of blue grass is low 

 rather than high. Foa compressa would seem to be the 

 hardier grass of the two since it will grow reasonably 

 well on dry, sandy, thin soils and gravelly knolls provid- 

 ing the rainfall is sufficient. l^Tevertheless, moist grav- 

 elly clays are much better suited to its growth. 



Place in the Rotation. — Blue grass in the strict sense 

 of the term, is not a rotation crop, since its highest use 

 is the production of pasture, and because it takes more 

 than one year to establish a good blue grass pasture. A 

 place is seldom given to it, therefore, in short rotations, 

 but of course as with alfalfa, it has a place in long ro- 

 tations. In other words there are certain crops which 

 it may be made to follow or precede with more of fit- 

 ness than if made to follow or precede other crops. 

 Owing, however, to its aggressive character it may be 

 made to follow almost any crop. 



As with all other grasses it will become established 

 more quickly and will grow more vigorously when sown 

 on clean rather than on foul land. The aim should be, 

 therefore, to sow it after some cleaning crop as corn, 

 sorghum, the non-saccharine sorghums, potatoes, beans, 

 cow peas and soy beans when these crops have been 

 given clean cultivation. But there may be conditions 

 in which it may be proper to sow blue grass on soil that 

 is foul with certain forms of weed life, and also worn, 

 as for instance, when the pasture is wanted at the 

 earliest moment practicable, and no other soil properly 

 prepared is at hand on which to sow it. Observe, how- 

 ever, that it is only in exigencies that this course is to 

 be commended. When once it has obtained a foothold 



