FIlSrE BEIS^T GRASS. 65 



equalling the glumes, chiefly awnless, 3 nerved ; the 

 upper one half its length. Gray. Flowers in July 

 and rii3ens seeds in August. 



In England and Sister Kingdoms. This grass has 

 always been considered as a troublesome weed in 

 dry, light soils, and not being well liked by cattle, 

 it commonly attracts attention as a useless grass to 

 be got quit of as soon as possible, more particularl}^ 

 as its creeping roots prove highly injurious to the 

 soil. However, notvrithstanding its bad qualities, 

 sheep are found to eat it, particularly in the winter 

 months, and it is sometimes sown on bare^ gravelly 

 places, where the more valuable grasses will not 

 grow, for the purpose of covering them with vegeta- 

 tion. Red Top has been long and favorably known 

 in this country as a x^ermanent pasture grass. It is 

 supposed by some to have been introduced into the 

 IS'orthern States. But I am inclined to the belief 

 that it is as much indigenous to the soil of America 

 as it is to that of any part of Great Britain. It is 

 found growing naturally on all the fertile and me- 

 dium soils on Long Island and there are few meadows 

 of three or four 3^ ears standing in which Red Top is 

 not found in abundance, and is sure to assert its 

 supremacy and become permanent, while in the 

 course of six or seven years the timothy has disap- 

 peared. In fact, the pasture lands of Long Island 

 have at least two thirds of Red Top in their compo- 

 sition. A circumstance which proves the neglect 

 and indifference shown toward the cultivation of the 

 more valuable permanent grasses. As a consequence 

 improved breeds of cattle or sheep are rare upon the 

 Island, except on the lands of progressive farmers, 

 whose system of grass culture embrace a mixture of 



