ITALIAN RYE GRASS. REDTOP. 177 



dry and hot one. It varies exceedingly, depending much 

 on soil and culture ; but, when cut in the blossom to 

 make into hay, it possesses very considerable nutritive 

 power. If allowed to get too ripe, it is hard and wiry, 

 and not relished by cows. The change from a juicy 

 and nutritious plant to woody fibre, possessing but 

 little soluble matter, is very rapid. Properly managed, 

 however, it is a tolerably good grass, though not to be 

 compared to Timothy, or orchard grass. 



ITALIAN RYE GRASS (Fig. 62) has also been cultivated to 

 considerable extent in this country, but with less satisfac- 

 tory results than are obtained from it in Europe, where it 

 endures all climates, giving better crops, both in quan- 

 tity and quality, than the perennial rye grass. It is one 

 of the greatest gluttons of all the grasses, and luxu- 

 riates in frequent irrigation with liquid manure, though 

 it is said to stand the drought very well. The soils 

 best adapted to it are rich, moist, and fertile, of medium 

 tenacity; and it is admirably adapted to the purposes of 

 soiling, as it endures repeated cutting, rapidly sending 

 up luxuriant crops. For rich soils near the barn, used 

 for the growth of crops for soiling, therefore, it may be 

 confidently used as a profitable addition to our list of 

 cultivated grasses. 



REDTOP (Fig. 63) is a grass familiar to every farmer in 

 the country. It is the Herd's grass of Pennsylvania, while 

 in New York and New England it is known by a great 

 variety of names, and assumes a great variety of forms, 

 according to the soil in which it grows. It is well 

 adapted to almost every soil, though it seems to prefer 

 a moist loam. It makes a profitable crop for spending, 

 in the form of hay, though its yield is less than that of 

 Timothy. It is well suited to our permanent pastures, 

 where it should be fed close, otherwise it becomes 

 wiry and innutritious, and cattle refuse it. It stands 



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