NATURAL HISTORY. 



19 



seed the cattle refuse it ; and this 

 fact seems to show that it is not so 

 much relished by stock as some of 

 the other pasture grasses. The fact 

 that cattle eat any gi-ass greedily in 

 the spring, is no proof of its excel- 

 lence or nutritious qualities ; since, 

 then, all grasses are tender and full 

 of juice, and many varieties of both 

 grasses and shrubs are readily eaten, 

 which at a more advanced stage of 

 growth are refused. It is to be re- 

 gretted that Prof. Way, in his val- 

 uable investigations into the nutri- 

 tive value of the grasses, did not 

 include this in the list analyzed by 

 him. At present we have no accu- 

 rate and reliable means of compari- 

 son of this with other species of 

 grass. The flower of the true redtop 

 is seen magnified in Fig. 16. 



This grass goes by various names, 

 and is greatly modified by soil and 

 cultivation. On a moist, rich soil 

 it grows larger than on a poor, thin 

 soil, and not only larger 

 but has a darker, purplish 

 color, vrith a stem varying 

 jfrom eighteen inches to 

 two feet or two and a half 

 feet high ; while on thin, 

 15. Redtop. Fig. 16. poor, gravelly soils, it sel- 



dom grows over twelve inches, and often not over five or six inches 

 high, while it has a lighter color. In the latter situations it 

 goes by the name of Finetop, and is universally seen in old, 

 dry pastures. In some sections of the State, as in Bristol 

 County, it goes by the name of Burden's or Borden's grass, or 

 Rhode Island Bent, and is highly esteemed. 



Finetop may be regarded as a variety of redtop, produced by 

 the character of the soil. 



