REDTOP FOR FRESH FORAGE 45 



slaked lime will restore the alkalinity of the soil, and then 

 manure or fertilizers will afford food for the better grass- 

 es. As redtop holds the land in a dense growth, it may 

 be necessary to plow, till and reseed in order quickly to 

 displace it. Redtop is not to be despised and when one's 

 land is not ready for a better grass or one's climate fa- 

 vors, one should utilize it. Carman of the Kentucky Ex- 

 periment Station reports in comparative yields of fresh 

 forage. Redtop, 4.80 tons to the acre; Bromus inermis, 

 7.20; Orchard grass, 8.40; Timothy, 7.12; Canada blue- 

 grass, 2.64 ; Kentucky bluegrass, 4.08. It is evident then 

 that the generally conceded superiority of bluegrass over 

 redtop lies in its greater palatability and somewhat su^ 

 perior nutrition. It is notable that while analyses in 

 America report redtop to be fairly nutritious, at least as 

 much so as timothy, in England it is disliked and de- 

 nounced. Sir J. B. Lawes says : "It flourishes most on 

 dry soils and is a troublesome weed on arable land, dis- 

 liked by cattle and sheep. It is reported as useless and 

 should be discouraged as much as possible. In manur- 

 ing the land the proportion of this grass was very much 

 reduced in every instance, a result certainly not to be re- 

 gretted." 



To sum up opinions concerning redtop, it is not a 

 grass of first quality; it suits certain soils, and is adapt- 

 able as to climates. It thrives in high mountain valleys 

 and on wet land and on land deficient in lime and fer- 

 tility. Drainage, limestone and fertility will bring in bet- 

 ter grasses. 



Quantity of Seed. Redtop seed in the chaff weighs 

 about 10 to 12 pounds per bushel, the recleaned seed 35 



