LAWNS AND LAWN-MAKING 



203 



lawn-grass (Osterdamia matrella (%.) Kuntze) is a com- 

 mon grass of the Orient, but not yet obtainable com- 

 mercially. It is much like St. Augustine grass in 

 character. Though slightly hardier than Bermuda, it 

 is not frost resistant. 



Carpet-grass (Paspalum compressum (Sw.) Nees) is 

 a low, creeping species, resembling Bermuda in habit, 

 apparently native to the Gulf Coast. It seems to thrive 

 best on somewhat sandy lands where it is closely grazed 

 and trampled. It flourishes in spite of heat and drouth, 

 and holds washing soils well. For years it has been 

 gradually extending its range northward in the Gulf 

 States. Though the seed is not on the market, this 

 grass should be tried for lawns in that section. Cut- 

 tings can be used for starting the sward, as in the case 

 of Bermuda grass. It is much more resistant to frost 

 than that species. 



Canada blue-grass (Poa compressa L.) is of lower 

 and more w 7 iry growth than Kentucky blue-grass and 

 also darker in color. Although an introduced grass, 

 it is now found quite abundantly in the States about the 

 Great Lakes. On rather dry, gravelly, or somewhat 

 sterile soils it is more successful than Kentuckv blue- 

 grass, and should be used in such situations. It has 

 given good results in parts of the Plains region west of 

 the Missouri River, where rainfall is light. 



Fescues (Festuca spp. ). There are several species 

 or varieties of the fine-leaved fescues, which are of con- 

 siderable value for lawn-making in shaded places or 

 on poor or gravelly hillside soils. Among them are : 

 Festuca australis, hard fescue (F. duriuscula) , various- 

 leaved fescue (F. heterophylla) , sheep's fescue (oviua). 



