A. VTJLGARIS, VAR ALBA, RED TOP. 147 



dairymen, and in their opinion the butter would suffer much by 

 its removal, " 



Professor Phares says "It furnishes considerable grazing 

 during warm 'spells' in winter, and in spring and summer an 

 abundant supply of nutrition. It will continue indefinitely, 

 though easily subdued by the plow. It seems to grow taller in 

 the southern States than it does farther north, and it makes more 

 and better hay and grazing. It does well with Timothy, but will 

 finally root out the latter. Sow about two bushels (24 Ibs.) per 

 acre if alone. 



" Bed top may be pastured here through most of the year, 

 furnishing considerable grazing even along through winters, 

 growing on almost all soils if not kept too long submerged in 

 water. It is very hardy, and in mixed pastures exterminates, 

 after a few years, most other grasses/' 



Killebrew ? of Tennessee, says. " Red top is next in import- 

 ance to Timothy as a meadow grass. Grazing is necessary to its 

 preservation, as, if allowed to go to seed a few years, it dies out. 



It is the most permanent grass we have,, and by means of its 

 long, creeping roots will, even it sown too thin, quickly take 

 possession of the ground. On uplands it is not a good producer. 

 It stands the effects of drought much better than Timothy. For 

 stopping gullies in old fields it is superior to blue grass. The 

 seed is usually sold in the chaff It is probably better adapted 

 to all the soils of the State [Tennessee] than any other grass." 



Howard of Georgia, says ; ic It will grow almost in running 

 water. It yields a valuable return on thinner land than, perhaps, 

 any other of the cultivated grasses. Timothy and red top should 

 be sown together, as they are ready for the scythe at the same 

 time. This mixture is better than either grass singly." 



In England Agrostis vulgans differs somewhat from the same 



FIG. 70. Agrostis vulgaris var. alba. (Red Top) ; number 7, a plant ; a, spikelet ; b, 

 empty glumes ; a, d, florets. (Scribner.) 



