332 GRASSES AND HOW TO GROW THEM. 



but, uncultivated, its growth is confined to marshy 

 ground and to lands situated along creeks and rivers, 

 that are sluggish in their flow. It is found in the 

 Mississippi basin as far south as northern Missouri, 

 but is most abundant in the marshes of Michigan, Wis- 

 consin, Minnesota and Manitoba in Canada. 



Blue Joint prefers marshy lands, too wet for redtop 

 and too dry for wire grass. It thrives best on de- 

 composed or partly decomposed peat, but has also re- 

 sponded encouragingly when tested at the experiment 

 station at Ames, Iowa. 



In a natural state, its place in the rotation has been 

 given. Under cultivation, it would probably answer 

 best as permanent meadow ; nor can anything be -said, 

 at present, based on experience as to the best methods 

 of preparing the land and sowing the seed. 



The plants seed with considerable freedom and ma- 

 ture their seeds in July. It should be cut for hay 

 not later than the early flowering stage, or it will lose 

 much in the palatahility, but in this respect -it does not 

 lose to the extent of many other grasses. The hay is 

 eaten with much relish by all classes of farm stock 

 and is said to be of average nutrition. While in a 

 state of nature, though eaten readily by stock at the 

 proper season for grazing, which is late in May or 

 early in June, the ground is usually too soft for such 

 grazing. It is probable that the seed could 'be best 

 secured by setting the binder as high as possible and 

 binding into sheaves. 



This grass should certainly be carefully tested in 

 an experimental way on low lands, to which eultiva- 



