140 PRINCIPAL INTRODUCED FORAGE GRASSES 



inches long. The spikelets are commonly red or purple, turning 

 green or brown at maturity (Fig. 41). 



Redtop is a relatively important grass in many parts of the 

 United States. It is more widely adapted to a variety of climatic 

 and soil conditions than timothy, withstands higher temper- 

 atures, and is well adapted to wet or boggy soils. On acid lands 

 redtop is commonly the most conspicuous of the grasses, and on 

 very wet lands its yield is unusually heavy. Redtop, however, 

 is not held in so high esteem as timothy, and hence occupies 

 second place where timothy can be grown successfully. How- 

 ever, where timothy fails to produce a good crop, redtop is 

 grown somewhat extensively. 



The principal merit of redtop as a pasture or meadow plant is 

 that it will often grow where timothy fails. As pasture the 

 forage is nutritious, yet the leafage is not relished so highly by 

 most classes of stock as is that of the most palatable grasses. 

 A good quality of hay of fairly high palatability is obtained if 

 the grass is cut when young. If, however, the grass is allowed 

 to stand until after it blossoms, the leafage becomes somewhat 

 harsh and woody, and the quality of the hay is impaired. As 

 the quality of redtop hay is not considered to be so high as that 

 of timothy, it is not advisable to seed redtop and timothy to- 

 gether. 



Redtop seed is comparatively low in price, and the germination 

 is usually good. Under favorable conditions the seed germinates 

 in 2 to 4 days. When sown pure, 10 to 12 pounds of seed to the 

 acre is used, whereas in mixtures 2 to 5 pounds is recommended. 

 The seeding operations, cultural methods, and season of seeding 

 are similar to those of timothy. 



Timothy. — The derivation of the name timothy {Phleum 

 pratense) is uncertain. By some it is traced to one Timothy 

 Hanson, who is said to have carried the seed from New York 

 to the Carolinas about 1720. Timothy is also known as Herd's 

 grass, from a Mr. Timothy Herd of New Hampshire, who is 

 said to have found it in a swamp in that State and to have begun 

 its cultivation. If the latter explanation is authentic. Herd gave 

 both his names to the species. Timothy is a hardy perennial 



