BLUE GRASS, KENTUCKY BLUE GRASS, JUNE GRASS, SPEAR-GRASS, or MEADOW-GRASS, Port prate nsis. A species common in the cooler parts of the United States, Europe, and Asia. It grows well upon almost any soil not too sandy, but attains its best development upon clay soils overlying limestone. In the United States it grows in great perfection in the limestone regions of Kentucky and Tennessee, the famous Blue Grass Region of the former being named for that fact. Blue grass, while furnishing hay of excel lent quality upon good soils, does not yield a large quantity, and on this account it is less valu able for hay than as a pasture and lawn grass. For these purposes it is not surpassed by any other grass in regions adapted to its growth. It is a perennial, attaining a height of from a few inches to two feet, with an abundance of long, narrow, soft root-leaves. It spreads with rapid ity by means of its rootstocks, soon forming a dense sod. On this account it stands pasturing well, the ordinary tramping of stock not injuring it to any extent. Blue grass should enter into every mixture for permanent pastures in the eastern and middle United States. The seed, as marketed, usually contains much chaff and is of low vitality; hence it should be sown rather thickly. To make a good firm sod, about three years are required, after which little attention is necessary. Pastures more than sixty years old are still in good condition. This grass does not do well in the warmer parts of the Southern States. In the South, the Texas blue grass, Poe arachnifera, replaces it. This species is closely
related to the Kentucky blue grass, differing from it principally in its more vigorous growth and having its 'seed' more or less covered with wool. This grass is propagated by seed or by setting out portions of sods, the woolly seed making sowing difficult. It spreads rapidly, and promises to become one of the best grasses for the regions to which it is adapted. Texas blue grass withstands drought better than the former species. There are a number of other species of Poe that resemble these blue grasses, and some of them may prove especially adapted to re gions where the others are not suited. Kentucky blue grass has the following percentage composi tion: Water, 65.1; proteid matter, 4.1; fat, 1.3; nitrogen - free extract, 17.6: crude fibre. 9.1; mineral matter, 2.8. Its feeding value, like that of other grasses, depends chiefly on its nitrogen free extract, crude fibre, and protein content. It is a wholesome and nutritious feed, relished by all kinds of stock. Hay made from this grass, cut when the seed is in the milk stage, contains, on an average per cent., water, 24.3; proteid matter, 6.3: fat, 3.G; nitrogen-free ex tract. 34.3: crude fibre, 24.5; and mineral mat ter, 7.0. Hay made from grass cut when the seed is ripe contains, on an average, a little less nutritive material. As regards composition, it compares favorably with hay and other grasses.