Varieties. 
Name. 
History. 
Agricultural 
value. 
Geographical 
distribution. 
Habitat. 
Limits of 
altitude. 
Climate. 
Soil. 
Substances 
removed 
from the soil, 
74 
Varieties. Several varieties occur. The following are of agricultural importance: — 4, Common 
smooth-stalked meadow-grass, (Poa pratensis var. vulgaris, Doll) with a bright green colour and the 
radical leaves long and slightly concave; 2. Broad-leaved meadow-grass (Poa pratensis var. latifolia, 
Koch); this is the »Blue grass« of America; it has a bluish green colour, and the radical leaves are short 
and broad; 3. Narrow-leaved meadow-grass (Poa pratensis var. angustifolia, Smith.) with its radical 
leaves long, narrow, permanently folded and bristle-like. 
The naine »Smooth-stalked« is applied to this grass to distinguish it from Poa trivialis which is 
»Rough-stalked«. It is sometimes called »Common meadow-grass«, and in N. America, » Blue-grass«. 
As this grass was often confounded with Poa trivialis many erroneous ideas have arisen, and many 
contradictory statements been made regarding it, About the middle of last century, the Narrow-leaved 
variety was cultivated in England and N. America under the name of » Bird-grass«. Only recently, howe- 
ver, has smooth-stalked meadow-grass come into general cultivation. 
Because of its fine and early foliage, this grass is very suitable either for spring pas- 
tures or as »bottom grass« in hay. Block regards it as one of the best pasture grasses ; if 
its aftermath were larger, it would certainly be the best »bottom-grass«. It is perennial, 
and forms a fine, complete sward. Crested dogstail, although its seed is dearer, has the 
advantage in the aftermath, and is accordingly preferable on the better kinds of soil. 
Occurrence, Climate, Soil, Manure. This grass is indigenous — to the whole of Europe. 
extending to Lapland, Nova Zembla, and Spitzbergen; to Asia, in the whole of Siberia extending to 
75° 36 N, lat., in Kamtschatka, and the Caucasus; to the whole of N. America, extending to Greenland, 
and the straits of Magellan. It also occurs in Australia. 
Smooth-stalked meadow-grass is common in meadows, on walls, in hedges, etc. 
It is very abundant on the Lower Alps ascending to 6,600 ft., at Albula 6,900 ft., at Julier near 
Stalla 6,300 ft., at Bevers 5,600 ft., at Schuders and Mesocco 6,000 ft., at Zermatt 5,000—5,750 ft., at 
Churwalden 4,150 ft. and at Engelberg 3,000 ft. 
Since smooth-stalked meadow-grass produces abundant roots spread over a wide area 
of ground, and kept out of reach of the sun by the underground stolons, it can bear extreme 
drought without injury. That is the chief reason why it is so widely distributed in the 
western parts of N. America. In the same way, extreme cold does not affect it; the cold 
cannot obtain access to the deep roots. 
It thrives very well upon any loose, good, warm soil which is rich in humus. On 
the rich prairies of N. America, for example, it forms the bulk of the grass; often, even 
the whole vegetation. When abundant, it is regarded as a sign of good soil, and »Blue-grass 
farms« usually fetch the highest prices. It is not so successful on soils which are heavy 
and compact as on those which are light or moderately heavy. It can be grown on a dry 
sand containing sufficient organic matter and manure. It also thrives on moist soils pro- 
vided they are not too stiff; and even on moorland which is well-drained; excessive wet- 
ness or sourness prevents its growth. Poverty in humus, especially when combined with 
extremes of lightness or heaviness, produces the same result. 
According to the Zurich analyses, 1000 Ibs. of hay remove from the soil: — 
Nitrogen . . . . 9.9 Ibs. Magnesia . . . . 0.4 Ibs. 
Phosphoric acid . . 8.2 ,, Eanes i ee ee ge ed. 55 
Potato. FOR be ed Sulphuric acid . . 14.3 ,, 
Soda . > * . ’ 0.5 + el Silica * * . + * Pn. 
