REDTOP 



321 



than Kentucky blue grass and largely takes the place of that 



grass in such locations. Where Kentucky blue grass will 



thrive, it is to be preferred to Canada blue grass, but in 



certain locations the latter is _ 



superior. The seed is frequently 



used as an adulterant of Ken- 



tucky blue grass. The main 



differences in the appearance of 



the two grasses are that the 



stems of Kentucky blue grass are 



round, while those of Canada 



blue grass are flattened or com- 



pressed; the leaves of the latter 



are shorter and less numerous, 



and the panicles are less spreading. 



Other related grasses are wood 



meadow grass, Poa nemoralis, and 



fowl meadow grass, Poa flava. 



Neither of these is of much im- 



portance, though they are grown 



to some extent in limited areas. 



REDTOP 



402. Origin and Description. 



Redtop, Agrostis alba, is a native 

 of the United States, growing 

 wild over a large portion of the 

 country. The plant does not 

 root deeply, but makes a firm, 



nH for r 



u L 



Fig. 99. Panicle of Canada 

 is. Contrast it with the 

 nrn- P en ' spreading panicle of Ken- 

 tucky blue grass in Fig. 117. 



duced in large numbers. It is 



valuable to prevent washing, and is not injunHl by trump- 



ling. The culms grow from 1 to 3 feet tall. They are 



13 



