40 FARMER'S BOOK OF GRASSES 



SPARTINA. Marsh Grass. 



In the south are four species growing in brackish marshes. 

 These, especially 8. polystachia with culms 4 to 9 feet high and 

 leaves J to 1 J inches wide, furnish in spring and summer a large 

 quantity of green forage, esteemed very valuable. But they 

 can be grown only on limited areas and are of so doubtful util- 

 ity that more special notice is not demanded. 



AGROSTIS. 



1. A. VULGARIS, Red Top Grass. This is the bent grass of 

 England, the herd grass of the southern States; not in honor of 

 any man, but probably because so well adapted to the herd. It 

 is called also line top, Burden's and Borden's grass. Varying 

 greatly in characters according to soil, location, climate and cul- 

 ture, some botanists have styled it A. polymorpha. It grows two 

 to three feet high and I have mown it when four feet high. It 

 grows well on hill tops and sides, in ditches, gullies and marsh- 

 es ; but delights in moist bottom land. It is not injured by 

 overflows though somewhat prolonged. In marshy land, it pro- 

 duces a very dense, strong net work of roots capable of sustain- 

 ing the* weight of men and animals walking over it. 



It furnishes considerable grazing during warm 'spells' in win- 

 ter, and in spring and summer an abundant supply of nutrition. 

 It has a tendency, being very hardy, to increaee in density of 

 growth and extent of surface, and will continue indefinitely, 

 though easily subdued by the plow. 



Cut before maturing seed, it makes a good hay and large 

 quantity. It seems to grow taller in the southern States, than it 

 does further north, and to make more and better hay and grazing. 

 It and timothy being adapted to the same soils and maturing at 

 the same time do well together and produce an excellent hay. 

 But the red top will finally root out the timothy if pastured 

 much it will do so sooner. 



Sow about two bushels (24 Ibs.) per acre, if alone, in Septem- 

 ber, October, February or March ; if with timothy for hay, from 

 6 to 10 pounds ; if with other grasses for pasture, 3 to 5 pounds. 

 It is an excellent pasture grass, and will grow on almost any 

 kind of soil. 



2. A. ALBA. White top, dew grass, bonnet grass, has become 

 naturalized in some of our southern swamps. In similar local- 

 ities we have also 3. A. perennans and 4. A. elata, (A. dispar, 

 Mich.) The latter or southern bent grass, is stouter, has^broader 

 leaves, and more numerous creeping roots and furnishes more 

 grazing and hay but coarser than the true red top. It deserves 

 the attention of those having lands adapted to it. On sterile 

 lands now and then may be seen 5. A. scabra, hair grass, tickle 



