ORCHARD GRASS 303 



391. Soils. Redtop will grow on a wide range of soils, 

 though it does best in moist locations. On poor, undrained, 

 or acid soils it has no superior. It produces a thick sod and 

 adds much vegetable matter to the soil, so that it is of great 

 value in building up poor clay land. 



392. Seeding. The rate of seeding depends on the 

 quality of the seed and whether it is grown alone or in a mix- 

 ture. When recleaned seed is sown, from 12 to 15 pounds to 

 the acre is sufficient when sown alone, or 6 to 8 pounds 

 when sown with other grasses. Redtop is commonly mixed 

 with timothy and alsike clover. The seed is sown in the 

 same manner as timothy seed, but care must be taken not 

 to cover it too deeply. Redtop seed is cut and threshed in 

 the same manner as timothy seed. Most of the redtop seed 

 is produced in southern Illinois. 



ORCHARD GRASS 



393. Origin and Description. Orchard grass, Dactylis 

 glomerata, is a native of Europe, but is now found quite 

 generally, though sparingly, throughout the United States 

 except in the semi arid sections. It is rather more deeply 

 rooted than timothy, the roots often penetrating to a depth 

 of at least 2 feet. The plant grows in tufts, or bunches, and 

 does not spread by creeping rootstocks. I'he culms are from 

 2 to 3 feet tall. The culm leaves are rather scanty, but are 

 sometimes as much as 2 feet in length, and are broader than 

 the leaves of most other grasses. The flowers are produced 

 in June, about the same time as those of red clover. They 

 are borne in a one-sided panicle, the spikelets being in dense 

 clusters and containing three or four flowers. The grain is 

 enclosed in the flowering glume, and is about one tenth of 

 an inch long, while the flowering glume is one sixth of an 

 inch or more in length. 



394. Importance. Orchard grass is not commonly grown 

 in this country except along the southern border of the 



