172 FORAGE PLANTS AND THEIR CULTURE 



show marked preference for soil types, but does best in 

 clay loams and loams. Notwithstanding its marked 

 adaptation to wet land, it will withstand considerable 

 drought and on poor uplands, even if somewhat sandy, will 

 thrive better than most other grasses. 



It is not well adapted to shade, and is rarely found in 

 such situations. 



166. Characteristics. Redtop, if grown isolated, 

 makes tufts 1 to 3 feet in diameter, usually about 30 

 inches high, but sometimes 3| feet. The vigorous root- 

 stocks are shallow and mostly 2 to 6 inches long. These 

 enable redtop to make a dense turf even 'in pure cultures. 

 If kept closely mown the leaves become much finer, and 

 a very satisfactory lawn results. Wherever the grass is 

 thin, the rootstocks promptly become more vigorous and 

 bear broader leaves. 



The grass blooms somewhat later than timothy, so 

 that mixtures of the two cut when timothy is in bloom, 

 rarely show any panicles of redtop. 



On account of its characteristics, redtop is perhaps better 

 adapted to pasturing than for hay. It is a common ele- 

 ment of all northern pastures, but most abundant where 

 the ground is wet or poor. In pasturing experiments, 

 cattle usually show preference to all other cultivated 

 grasses over redtop. 



167. Importance. Redtop is probably the third or 

 fourth most important perennial grass in America, being 

 exceeded by timothy, Kentucky blue-grass and perhaps 

 Bermuda. It makes up more or less of the pasturage 

 over the whole area to which it is adapted, especially on 

 wet and on non-calcareous soils. As a hay crop it is 

 most important in New England, where it comprises most 

 of the 1,100,999 acres of " other tame or cultivated grasses." 



