MEADOW AND PASTURE GRASSES 105 



Importance of Redtop. Redtop is the third or fourth most important 

 perennial grass in America. It is adapted to both pasture and hay pur- 

 poses, although it is not equal to timothy as a hay producer nor to Kentucky 

 blue grass for pasture purposes. As a pasture grass it is not so palatable 

 as Kentucky blue grass. * 



Culture. Like Kentucky blue grass, redtop is aggressive and fre- 

 quently takes full possession of the land. It is seldom seeded alone, usually 

 being included in mixtures. The rate of seeding depends on the quality 

 of the seed and the nature of the mixture in which seeded. With re-cleaned 

 seed, twelve to fifteen pounds per acre are sufficient when seeded alone. 

 Much smaller amounts will meet the requirements in mixtures. The time 

 and manner of seeding are similar to those for timothy. 



Yields and Uses. Redtop has been tested at a number of state experi- 

 ment stations and yields of hay ranging from 3000 to 5600 pounds per acre 

 are reported. In order to be of good quality redtop should be cut early. 

 If allowed to become fairly mature it makes hay that is fibrous and unpala- 

 table. Numerous analyses show that redtop hay contains more nutrients 

 than timothy hay. 



ORCHARD GRASS 



Orchard grass, a native of Europe, is grown quite generally throughout 

 the United States, except in the semi-arid sections and the extreme south. 

 It is a rather deep-rooted, coarse grass which grows in tufts or bunches and 

 is without creeping root stocks. It does best in a temperate climate, but 

 will stand more heat than timothy, and is less resistant to cold. In the 

 United States it is cultivated more abundantly southward than northward. 

 It begins growth earlier than most grasses, and often produces a second 

 cutting of hay. 



Importance. Orchard grass ranks fourth or fifth in importance among 

 the perennial cultivated hay grasses in North America. It is most exten- 

 sively grown in Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, Ken- 

 tucky, southern Indiana, Iowa and Oregon. 



Culture. The seed of orchard grass weighs from fourteen to twenty- 

 two pounds per bushel, and when seeded alone requires about thirty-five 

 pounds per acre. Germination of the seed is complete in about fourteen 

 days. It may be seeded either in the fall or very early spring. When 

 seeded in the fall, early seeding is desirable to prevent winter killing. The 

 seed, being of an exceedingly chaffy character, does not feed well through 

 a seed drill, and is generally sown by hand or with the wheelbarrow or other 

 types of seeders. 



Ordinarily, the grass does not form seed the first season. It is long- 

 lived, and individual plants are known to live eight years, and will probably 

 live longer. 



Yields and Uses. Whether seeded in fall or spring, the first year's 

 growth rarely gives a hay crop, but it may be utilized for pasture. When 



