211 



the country. All stock relish it. It produces more continuously if kept fed off than 

 any grass t know, and the chemical analysis shows it to be a specially rich food. 



-4^ 



Fig: 18. 



Fig. 10. 



Agrostis vulgaris, With. (Eed Top), Fig. 20. It might be supposed that all farmers 

 would knowwhat Eed Top is; but this is not the case, and I have had more specimens 

 of this grass sent in for name than anyone other kind. Anyone who once knows it 

 will not easily foi'get it again. The name " Eed Top " is also given to many grasses to 

 which it does not belong, as Fowl-Meadow G-rass (^Poa serotina), which is never red; 

 when touched with frost it turns purple. Blue-Joint {Deyeuxia Canadensis), a tall 

 water or low-land grass, sometimes 6 feet high, and others. True Eed Top is an 

 Agrostis, a family in which the florets are single at the end of the slender little stalk- 

 lets in the panicle. In the Meadow Grasses of the genus Poa, the flowers are made 

 U]) of five or six florets as shown in Fig. 1*7 and 18. Red Top is a very valuable 

 grass for low land, and produces a heavy crop of rich, soft hay. 



Agropyrum diver gens, Nees. (Awned Blue-stem), In my last report I say* " Spoken 

 highly of in the west, but made a poor showing at Ottawa." In discussing this 

 grass with Professor Lamson-Scribuer, he writes me as follows : " When in Montana 

 1 noted this grass particularly, and can assure yoxi that it stood till fall upon the open 

 ranges. The culms were hard and rigid, and cattle would not eat them so long as 

 there was any other vegetation to be had. In the winter season, when stock is 

 starvation hungrj'-, of course it may serve to keep the animals alive." 



Agropyrum tenerum (Western Eye Grass). This valuable hay and fodder 

 grass has been specially tried during the past season, at the request of Mr. K. 

 Mclver, of Eoselea farm, Virden, Man., who kindly sent me a good supply of 

 seed in April last, with the following letter: ''^ Will you kindly sow a small plot of 

 native Eye-grass I send you herewith, and have it tested along with other varieties 



