302 FIELD CROPS 



It comes into flower about six weeks later than blue grass. 

 The grain, which is only about one twenty-fifth of an inch 

 long, is enclosed in the flowering glume, which is about one 

 and one half times as long as the grain. The seed weighs 

 about 12 pounds to the bushel before it is separated from the 

 outer glumes; but recleaned seed may weigh as much as 36 

 pounds to the bushel. 



389. Related Plants. A variety of redtop called creep- 

 ing bent, Agrostis alba vulgaris, is grown to some extent in 

 the Eastern states. It makes a finer, more slender growth 

 than the ordinary redtop which is grown for hay, grows 

 closer to the ground, and is better adapted for use in pas- 

 tures and lawns. There are all gradations in form between 

 creeping bent and redtop. Another closely related grass 

 which is grown in lawns, on hesivj clay soils, and in places 

 where Kentucky blue grass does not grow well, is Rhode 

 Island bent, A grostis canina, a small form with a creeping habit. 

 Neither of these grasses is of any value for hay production. 



390. Importance. Redtop probably ranks next to timo- 

 thy in importance as a hay grass over the region where 

 timothy is grown. Its range, however, is wider than that 

 of either timothy or blue grass, and it is most important 

 where those grasses are sparingly grown. It thrives in New 

 England, as far south as the northern end of the Gulf states, 

 and on wet lands to the Pacific Coast. It grows on soils 

 and in locations where timothy will not grow, and produces 

 good yields of hay. The hay is about equal to timothy in 

 feeding value, though it is not as palatable and is not in 

 general favor. As a pasture grass, it is not well liked by 

 stock, but it forms a sod more quickly than Kentucky blue 

 grass, stands pasturing well, and yields an abundance of 

 succ\ilent feed. It is not generally sown except on soils that 

 are too heavy, wet, or acid for timothy or blue grass to 

 thrive. Redtop is objectionable in timothy meadows 

 because it lowers the market value of the timothy hay. 



