22 



GRASSES AND FORAGE PLANTS. 



The Alpine Brown Bent, the Upright Flowered Bent, and 

 many other species of agrostis might be mentioned. Of all 

 the species of this genus, the redtop and white top are the most 

 common as agricultural grasses among us. 



The Fiorin, (^agrostis alba, 

 var. stolonifera latifolia,^ 

 or Broad Leaved Creeping 

 Bent, lias been more highly 

 commended in Europe than 

 either of these. In the Wo- 

 buni experiments which will 

 be alluded to, this last was 

 found to be inferior in nutri- 

 tive value to orchard grass 

 and meadow fescue, (^fes- 

 tiica pratensis,') and superior 

 to meadow foxtail (^alopecu- 

 rus pratensis.') 



The Southern Bent, {agros- 

 tis dispar,) (Fig. 19,) has 

 been highly extolled in France. 

 It is a native of the United 

 States ; was at one time highly 

 commended in England, but 

 was very soon discarded. It 

 furnishes a hay of rather 

 coarse quality, yields a large 

 produce on good, deep 

 sands and calcareous 

 soils. It tillers very 

 much, and when once 

 rooted is very vigor- 

 ous and lasting, and 

 consequently makes a 

 good pasture grass. 

 It is very similar in 

 appearance to some 



of the broad leaved varieties of agrostis vulgaris, and is 

 said to yield a larger produce than that commonly known as 

 redtop. It has stronger and more numerous creeping roots, 



SoutherntBeut. 



