18 GRASSES AND FORAGE PL.\:S^TS. 



Flowering Vilfa, (vilfa serotina,} is somewhat common in 

 sandy swamps. It is a very delicate grass, flowering at the 

 same time "with the preceding. 



Late Drop Seed, {sporobolus serotinus,') is sometimes found 

 in low, swampy places, with smooth, slender, flatish stems, 

 leaves few and sleuder, panicle spreading, with hairy branches, 

 glumes oTate, obtuse and half the length of the palea. Flowers 

 in September. It is a delicate grass of no special agricultural 

 value. 



Redtop, Finetop, Burden's Grass, Dew Grass, Herds-Grass 

 of Pennsylvania and Southern States, (^agrostis vulgaris,) Fig. 

 15. Plants of this genus have one flowered spikelets in a loose 

 open panicle ; glumes nearly equal, the lower longer than the 

 palefE, which are thin and naked ; stamens three — perennial. 



The specific characters are, stems erect, slender, round, 

 smooth and polished ; roots creeping, panicle oblong, leaves 

 linear, ligule very short, lower palea mostly awnless and three 

 nerved. Flowers in July. Pastures and moist meadows very 

 common — mtroduced. The term agrostis was the ancient 

 Greek word for field, and was applied to all varieties of grass 

 that grew there. 



This valuable grass, so common in all our cultivated fields, 

 has been an inhabitant of our soils for more than a century. 

 It was called simply English grass by Eliot, Deane and other 

 early writers, and by the English, Fine Bent. Indeed, the 

 whole genus agrostis is commonly known in England as " Bent 

 Grass." This grass is often sown with Timothy and clover, 

 in which case, the clover, of course, soon disappears, being 

 biennial, when Timothy follows, after which redtop usually 

 takes its place, and ^vith some wild grasses forms a close sward. 

 In Pennsylvania and States further south, it is universally 

 known as Herds-grass — a name appHed in New England and 

 New York to phleum pratense alone. It is of somewhat slow 

 growth, but of good or medium quality. It is suited to moist 

 soils, though common to all. This grass is probably rather over- 

 rated by us. It makes a profitable crop for spending, though 

 not so large a crop is obtained as from Herds-grass. It is a 

 good permanent grass, and consequently well suited to our pas- 

 tures, standing our climate as well as any other grass. It 

 should be fed close in pastures, for if allowed to grow up to 



