REDTOP 173 



On the poor clayey soils in southern Illinois it succeeds 

 better than any other similar grass. 



168. Variability. Cultivated redtop is very variable 

 and many strikingly different individuals can readily be 

 selected. The leaves may be very narrow or broad, dark 

 bluish green or pale green in color ; the panicles large or 

 small, purple or green ; the rootstocks very abundant and 

 vigorous, or few, or even wanting. In recent times some 

 attention has been given to the selection of improved 

 strains, but none of these have yet become agriculturally 

 established. 



169. Regional strains. Commercial seed is produced 

 only in the United States and in Germany. Stebler and 

 Volkart report experiments in Switzerland, in which the 

 German strain showed far greater ability than the Ameri- 

 can to maintain itself. The American strain almost dis- 

 appeared after 7 years, while the German strain increased 

 markedly and still held its own after 9 years. 



170. Culture. Redtop, like Kentucky blue-grass, is 

 such an aggressive grass that it usually comes in naturally 

 where once established. It is rarely sown alone and 

 usually but a small proportion of seed is included in mix- 

 tures. There is little accurate information available as 

 to rates of seeding when sown alone, different writers rec- 

 ommending from 6 to 50 pounds, but not always specify- 

 ing the quality. Of good " recleaned " seed 10 pounds 

 per acre should be ample, and a correspondingly larger 

 amount if of inferior grades. It may be sown in the same 

 manner as timothy. Stebler and Volkart recommend for 

 Switzerland 14 pounds per acre, germinating 72 per cent. 



Redtop is also an exceedingly good grass for lawns 

 if sown thickly and kept closely mowed, under which 

 conditions the leaves are fine and the turf dense. 



