32 ON THE CULTIVATED GRASSES 



more permanent duration, provided it be allowed to run to seed. There are several varieties 

 of P. nemoralis in cultivation, the most important of which is the Evergreen, or Hudson's 

 Bay Meadow Grass {P. nemoralis, var. sempervirens). The recommendatory characteristics 

 of the Hudson's Bay Grass are its perpetual greenness, earliness in spring, and the rapidity 

 with which it reproduces leaves and stems after being eaten or cut down ; in addition to 

 which, its thick growth, fineness of foliage, and capability of growing under the shade of 

 trees, like the common P. nemoralis (from which it cannot be considered specifically dis- 

 tinct), render it a most desirable grass for lawns and ornamental parks. 



35. Poa pratensis {Smooth-stalked Meadow Grass). — Fr. Paturin des pres ; Ger. 

 JViesen Rispengrass. — Root creeping ; stem smooth ; leaves hardish and roughish ; height 



two feet ; flowers in May and June ; grows naturally in very dry situations, as on rocks, 

 and tops of walls. This grass has been greatly recommended for pasture, from its yielding 

 a large quantity of herbage at a very early period of the season ; but it possesses several 

 bad properties, which render the propriety of its culture at least doubtful, except, perhaps, 

 in very dry soils, where the more valuable grasses are liable to suffer from drought. Its 

 creeping roots impoverish the soil, and its foliage ceases, in a great measure, to grow after 

 the month of June ; while it is liable to be injured by the disease called rust, and from 

 its growing in large patches, all the other gi-asses Avithin its reach are destroyed. When 

 intended for hay it should be cut while in flower ; for if allowed to ripen its seed, a con- 

 siderable loss will be sustained. (See ilhistration facing page 40.) 



36. Poa trivialis {Rough-stalked, Stoloniferous Meadow Gi'ass). — Fr. Patutin Com- 

 inun ; Ger. Gemeines Rispengras. — Leaves rather smooth ; producing shoots from the base 

 of the culms, which trail on the ground, and make small roots at their joints in moist 

 weather ; root fibrous, perennial ; flowers in June and July ; height, two to two and a half 

 feet. This is a valuable grass as a mixture for pasture lands, particularly on damp soils, 

 and where partly shaded by trees ; and is well suited, with Agrostis alba var. stolo7iifcra 

 and Poa fluitans, for irrigated meadows. Its stoloniferous shoots begin to grow pretty early 

 in spring, and by lying prostrate on the ground form a beautiful verdant sward. As the 

 season becomes more advanced, however, these shoots are dried up by the effects of the 

 sun, but they shoot out again towards the end of the season, when the weather becomes 

 more moist, and continue green during the greater part of the winter ; a habit of growth 

 which fits it for mixing with the upright growing sorts, such as the Italian Rye Grass. 

 Although possessed of tender foliage, and easily cut with the scythe, it is not adapted for 

 sowing for short grass, as it is apt to get dried up in summer, while its creeping shoots are 

 liable to be raised by the rake or broom in clearing off, thus giving the work an unfinished 

 appearance. {See illustration facing page 42.) 



37. Trisetum flavescens {Yellowish Oat Grass). — Fr. Avoine jawidtre ; Ger. Gold- 

 hafer. — Root fibrous, perennial ; height one and a half to two feet ; flowers in July. Grows 

 naturally in dry pastures, on rather light and good soils, and is eagerly sought after by sheep. 

 The T. flavescens yields a considerable bulk of fine herbage, and deserves to form a por- 

 tion of all mixtures on light dry soils, either for hay or pasture ; but is one of those grasses 

 which never thrive unless combined with others. It arrives early at maturity, and although 

 a perennial, yet, if allowed to ripen seed, is but of short duration, particularly if grown on 

 stiff moist soils. 



