66 PERMANENT AND TEMPORARY PASTURES 



consider that for any other land it is worth while to incur the 

 cost of seed, which, if true, is always expensive. Wherever 

 Poa pratensis wiU answer, it should be used instead. 



When not in flower this species is recognisable by the 

 slender leaf, which gradually tapers from the base to the tip of 

 the blade, and has a well-marked keel. The young leaves are 

 compressed, and folded on the mid-rib, the lower sheaths are 

 loose and tinged violet-purple. 



At Kidmore nitrate of soda and muriate of potash had 

 a marked effect on the development of this grass ; ammonia 

 salts diminished its growth. The Rothamsted experiments 

 have clearly estabhshed the fact that in this respect it differs 

 altogether from Poa pratensis. 



For illustration, description, and chemical analysis, see 

 pages 176 and 177. 



POA NEMORALIS 



{Wood Meadow Grass). 



Wood Meadow Grass starts growth very early in spring, 

 yields a greater bulk of herbage than Poa pratensis, bears 

 drought remarkably well, and is the most valuable of the 

 cultivated Poas. For lawns and ornamental grounds it 

 answers admirably, and is indispensable for sowing under the 

 shade of trees. The seed is too costly, and the supply too 

 uncertain, to warrant a large use of it in ordinary grass-land 

 farming. 



The very short sheath — not more than one -quarter of the 

 length of the flat blade — together with the laciniated obtuse 

 ligule, and the compressed character of the younger leaves, are 

 poiots by which this variety may be recognised when not in 

 flower. 



For illustration, description, and chemical analysis, see 

 pages 178 and 179. 



