248 TwENTY-FiBST Biennial Eepoet 



is a slighter plant of similar appearance, but soon runs 

 out. At the end of three years it has generally been 

 largely gone from the plots. It is, in the books, re- 

 garded .^as a variety of the coarser and more persistent 

 grass, but if the seed we have sown is true to name, and 

 it has been obtained from one of the foremost dealers 

 and importers in the country, the two grasses should 

 certainly rank as distinct species. 



Smooth brome grass is very persistent on the Farm, 

 but is uneven in growth and not very productive. It 

 does better in the northwest. 



There are two perennial grasses besides those men- 

 tioned that ought to be considered for Kentucky. One 

 is a slight fine-bladed, very early grass, known as 

 sheep's fescue. It is one of the most persistent of the 

 grasses I have tested, and this, notwithstanding the fact 

 that its dropped seeds appear never to germinate, and 

 it does not spread by underground shoots. It is a true 

 perennial, and I think may have a value for hilly land 

 of Kentucky for sheep. It is grown for this purpose in 

 Europe. It is a palatable grass. The yield is slight, 

 and it would not do at all for hay. 



The second species is tall oats grass, also a true 

 perennial, having persisted in the plots with no appar- 

 ent dimunition in vigor and productiveness for eight 

 years. It is not as coarse if cut at the right time as 

 either timothy or orchard grass. But I am compelled 

 to add that it is not relished by stock — is, in fact, an- 

 other example of the special vigor with lack of palata- 

 bility. So it is not, perhaps, to be considered for blue- 

 grass Kentucky. I have kept my eye on it for a good 

 many years in the plots as a possibility for some sec- 

 tions which cannot grow other forage. In appearance, 

 productiveness, and hardiness, it is an almost ideal 

 meadow and pasture plant. Now, why cannot that com- 

 bination of characters go with palatability? 



A number of southern grasses have been tried from 

 time to time by us in the hope that among them was 

 something that would take the place of blue grass in 

 western Kentucky. Bermuda grass was established, 

 after repeated attempts with seed, by using cuttings, 

 and we now have a couple of small plots that were 



