SEEDING REDTOP 323 



and on wet lands to the Pacific Coast. It grows on soils 

 and in locations where timothy will not grow, and produces 

 good yields of hay. The hay is about equal to timothy in 

 feeding value, though it is not as palatable and is not in 

 general favor. As a pasture grass, it is not well liked by 

 stock, but it forms a sod more quickly than Kentucky blue 

 grass, stands pasturing well, and yields an abundance of 

 succulent feed. It is not generally sown except on soils |hat 

 are too heavy, wet, or acid for timothy or blue grass to 

 thrive. Redtop is objectionable in timothy meadows be- 

 cause it lowers the market value of the timothy hay. 



404. Soils. Redtop will grow on a wide range of soils, 

 though it does best in moist locations. On poor, undrained, 

 or acid soils it has no superior. It produces a thick sod and 

 adds much vegetable matter to the soil, so that it is of great 

 value in building up poor clay land; 



405. Seeding. The rate of seeding depends on the 

 quality of the seed and whether it is sown alone or in a mix- 

 ture. When recleaned seed is sown, from 12 to 15 pounds to 

 the acre are sufficient when sown alone, or 6 to 8 pounds 

 when sown with other grasses. Redtop is commonly mixed 

 with timothy and alsike clover. The seed is sown in the 

 same manner as timothy seed, but care must be taken not 

 to cover it too deeply. Redtop seed is cut and thrashed in 

 the same manner as timothy seed; most of the redtop seed 

 is produced in southern Illinois. 



406. Related Plants. A variety of redtop called creep- 

 ing bent, Agrostis alba vulgaris, is grown to some extent in 

 the Eastern states. It makes a finer, more slender growth 

 than the ordinary redtop which is grown for hay, grows 

 closer to the ground, and is better adapted for use in pas- 

 tures and lawns. There are all gradations in form between 



