GRASSES. 209 



permanent meadows. It is widely distributed. It 

 bears its seed in a panicle, and thus has a superficial 

 resemblance to Kentucky blue grass. The general 

 observer may distinguish it from the latter by the 

 purple color of the panicle and the smaller and more 

 numerous spikelets. It does not grow as tall as timo- 

 thy, but rather taller than Kentucky blue grass. It 

 ripens about the same time as timothy. It is adapted 

 to low, moist lands and is usually grown on the poorer 

 lands of this sort. 



It produces a fairly good quantity of hay, but the 

 quality is not considered as good as timothy. Buyers 

 are not favorably disposed toward it. In some places 

 where it grows readily farmers take the precaution to 

 keep it out of their timothy meadows, because even a 

 little of it reduces the market value of the hay. 



It makes fair pasturage. It produces a better sod 

 and more pasture, probably, on suitable soils, than 

 timothy, although the plants do not take possession of 

 the soil so quickly. As a pasture grass it is more im- 

 portant where Kentucky blue grass is not adapted. 



There are ten pounds of red top seed per bushel. 

 Two to three bushels are recommended for seeding. 

 This is from two to three thousand seeds per square 

 foot. The seeds are extremely small and are apt to 

 have poor vitality. 



Orchard Grasis or rough cock's foot (Dactylis 

 glomerta, L.) is a much praised but little cultivated 

 grass in this country. It has been cultivated in this 

 country, at least since 1764, when we are told it was 

 brought into notice in England by its re-introduction 

 from America. While it has been cultivated in this 

 country more or less since that time, it has not been 



