GRASSES OF IOWA. 



359 



NATURAL CONDITION. 



Sample No. 1. 

 Sample No. 2. 

 Sample No. 3. 

 Sample No. 4. 

 Sample No. 5. 



c3 

 fa 



.97 

 .85 

 .82 

 .77 

 .74 



WATER FREE SUBSTANCE. 



Sample No. 1. 

 Sample No. 2. 

 Sample Wo. 3. 

 Sample No. 4. 

 Sample No. 5 



5.00 

 3 50 

 4.00 

 2.40 

 2.10 



Redtop {Agrostis alba), l. — Many writers of the early part 

 of this century do not speak favorably of Agrostis alba as a for- 

 age plant, although its cultivation began in 1761. Stebler and 

 Schroter* stats that it was introduced into Ireland about the 

 beginning of this century; Dr. Richardson pointed out its 

 merit, and on his recommendation it came to be extensively 

 cultivated in Great Britain. The cultivation of Fiorin com- 

 menced on the continent about 1840, where it was held in 

 high esteem. Jessen+, 1863, praises its qualities as a forage 

 plant in Germany, but says it is difficult to harvest. In this 

 country it has been cultivated for a long time. Flintt says: 

 "It was called simply English grass by Eliot, Dean and other 

 early writers, and by the English, fine bent. Most of the 

 grasses of this genus are known in England under the name 

 of 'Bent Grass, ' of which there are many species. " 



Redtop is a very variable species; there are included under 

 it a number of well marked and distinct varieties, some of which 

 have received distinct names. 



Prof. F. Lamson-Scribner,§ in his "Grasses of Tennessee," 

 makes the following statement with reference to the different 

 forms : 



^'Agrostis vulgaris, With. Fine Bent, is now united with ^. 

 alba, L., not being regarded as botanically distinct. A. vulgaris, 



*1. c. 68. 



tDeutschland's Graser. 63. 



il. c. 40-41. 



§Bull. Univ. Tennessee Agrl. Exp. Sta. 7: 1.T8. 



