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, 

 close sod, for rootstocks are pro- 

 duced in large numbers. It is 

 valuable to prevent washing, and is not injured by tramp- 

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



Fig. 99. Panicle of Canada 

 blue grass. Contrast it with the 

 open, spreading panicle of Ken- 

 tucky blue grass in Fig. 97. 



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