40 THE GRASSES OF MAINE. 



often one-sided, branches single or in pairs ; spikelets crowded, 

 very short pediceled, from three to seven-flowered. Common in 

 fields and waste grounds. Flowers from June to September. It is 

 very nutritious but too small to be cultivated with profit. 



38. Poa compressa, Linneus. 



Po'-a com-pres'-sa. 



PLATE xvn. 



Common Names. Wire Grass, Flat-Stalked Grass, Blue Grass. 



Stems from twelve to eighteen inches high, bent at the lower joints, 

 arising from a running root-stock. The stems are very much flattened, 

 especially the nodes, which character suggested the specific name. 

 Leaves short and of a dark bluish color ; panicle simple, contracted 

 and somewhat one-sided, from one to three inches long, the short 

 branches mostly in pairs. Spikelets almost sessile, from three to 

 ten-flowered and much flattened. The outer glumes are acute, the 

 flowering ones obtuse, smooth, the nerves obscure and the apex 

 frequently purplish colored. It forms a very firm turf b}' means of 

 its creeping root-stocks. 



Common in fields and waste places. Flowers in June and July. 



Various opinions are held as to the value of this grass. Hon. J. 

 S. Gould says that cows fed upon it, both in pasture and in hay, 

 give more milk and keep in better condition than when fed on any 

 other grass, and that horses fed on this hay will do as well as when 

 fed on Timothy and oats combined. Although it does not grow very 

 high and yields scarcely more than a ton to the acre, yet, if the 

 claims made for it by Mr. Gould prove true, it should certainly 

 command the attention of our farmers, not only for field culture, but 

 also for the pastures. 



The analysis of this grass grown in Washington, gave the follow- 

 ing results : Ash G.08, fat 4.52, nitrogen-free extract, 58.18, crude 

 fiber 18.53, albuminoids 12.69. 



39. Poa laxa, H&mke. 



Po'-a laxf-a. 



Common Name. Few-Flowered Alpine Meadow Grass. 

 Stems slender, erect, from six to eight inches high ; leaves numer- 

 ous, narrow. Panicle somewhat raceme-like, often one-sided and 



