62 PEEMANENT AND TEMPOEAEY PASTUEES. 



while Poa trivialis thrives in moisture. This is the chief con- 

 stitutional difference between the two plants, and although each 

 of them will to some extent conform to the conditions which 

 specially favour the other, yet the distinction clearly indicates the 

 use to which each one should, as a rule, be applied. 



Poa pratensis does not root very deeply, but is dependent 

 principally upon the surface soil, and therefore it is met with on 

 all geological formations if the surface happens to be suitable. 

 All eminent authorities concur in recommending its use on 

 good dry soils, and my own experience has convinced me of 

 the correctness of their opinion. But light land must be rich 

 in humus to ensure success, and this shows that the plant is 

 unfitted for sand. On soils that are heavy and tenacious it will 

 often grow, but it is not then seen to the greatest advantage. 



During the first year Poa pratensis remains small, and does 

 not throw up any stalks, and when fully established it is a marked 

 characteristic of the plant that it only flowers once a year. After 

 the stems are cut, no more grow until the following season. The 

 plant needs liberal feeding, and is primarily a pasture grass, 

 because the flowers come too early for the scythe. Otherwise, 

 for very forward cutting it is valuable for hay, and then pro- 

 duces a good aftermath. The secret of its earliness is that the 

 plant appears to be insensible to cold, continuing to grow during 

 spring frosts. Its presence in large proportion in a pasture will 

 help to make that pasture an early one, and this fact strongly 

 commends it to the grazier, for a ton of feed at the end of March 

 or the beginning of April is of far higher value than it is a month 



later. 



For lawns, Smooth-stalked Meadow Grass should be freely 

 sown, as it is strictly perennial, overpowers weeds, and forms a 

 fine compact turf. 



In the West of Ireland, where this grass grows all the year 

 round, it should be largely used ; and in Wales it should be 

 serviceable, as it is one of the most suitable for fogging. For 

 railway embankments or other situations where a rapid matting 



