Turf for Golf Courses - Msu

THE IMPORTANT TURF PLANTS 63
stripping machines, as the tuft of hair at the base of
the seed makes other methods unsatisfactory. The
stripping is done before the heads are quite mature,
on which account the seeds must be dried very care-
fully, as otherwise they become injured by the spon-
taneous heating which occurs in the. piles of the
scarcely ripe seeds.
Blue-grass seed germinates better a year after it
has been harvested than when fresh. Good seed
should have a dark golden brown color, and be free
from dust or musty odor. Light color indicates
adulterated or mixed seed, while the presence of
dust or musty odor implies improper ~urirtg and
consequent low vitality. The best seed weighs
twenty-eight pounds to the bushel. Formerly it
was much adulterated with Canada Blue-grass, but
such practice has now largely ceased.
ANNUAL BLUE-GRASS (Poa annua)
Annual Blue-grass (Fig. 4) is a weedy little grass that
often occurs abundantly in putting-greens, springing up
in the fall and disappearing in early summer. Where
it is once established, it volunteers year after year,
and in shady places often forms an excellent lawn in
the spring. It is rather easily recognized by its light,