70 PEEMANENT AND TEMPOEAEY PASTUEES. 



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

 round, it should be largely used ; and, as one of the most suit- 

 able grasses for fogging, it should be serviceable in Wales. For 

 railway embankments or other situations where a rapid matting 

 turf is wanted for holding the soil together, there is no more 

 valuable plant. 



In the United States, where Poapratensis is known under the 

 name of Kentucky Blue Grass, or June Grass, it has been cultivated 

 with striking success, and when it has taken possession of a pasture 

 the value of the land is immediately enhanced. Americans grow 

 it on their richest soil, and are surprised that we use it so httle 

 and never sow it alone. But in some parts of New Zealand this 

 grass has developed a very objectionable habit of growth. It 

 overruns pastures, and is difficult to eradicate from arable land 

 when once it has obtained a footing. This fact does not 

 prove the worthlessness of the grass for British use. It is analo- 

 gous to the case of our familiar Sweetbriar, which since its intro- 

 duction into Tasmania forms dense thickets in that country, 

 entangling and overpowering all other vegetation, throwing under- 

 ground suckers across fields, and matting the soil with its dense 

 mass of fibre. But we are not on that account inclined to sacrifice 

 the charming bush of our gardens and hedgerows. Neither the 

 merits of Poa pratensis when cultivated in America, nor its 

 demerits when sown in certain districts of New Zealand, how- 

 ever interesting they may be, need influence our estimate of the 

 value of a grass which experience has proved to be of great 

 service in this country. 



The rounded, concave tip of the leaf, together with the 

 obtuse ligule, the yellowish green of the lower sheaths, and short 

 stolons, will sufiice for determining the presence of this species in 

 a pasture. 



Dressings of nitrate of soda discourage the growth of this 

 grass, while mineral superphosphates combined with ammonia 

 salts foster it, At Kidmore decorticated cotton cake was also 

 conducive to the growth of P. pratensis. 



