RED TOP. 51 



North America. Its cultivation began in England about two hundred 

 and fifty years ago, but it is only since the middle of the last century 

 that it has been commonly grown in Europe. 



Cultural conditions: Red Top grows naturally in all kinds of 

 localities. Some of the varieties persist in light, sandy soil where 

 little moisture is available, but they make a poor growth and have 

 no agricultural value. Other varieties make a luxuriant growth in 

 wet places and are of great importance. As the yield depends almost 

 entirely upon the growth of the creeping root system, the grass does 

 best in soil where the roots can develop freely. This they will do 

 in light and wet soil, whereas in heavy dry land the rootstocks and 

 runners become short and rather unproductive. Red Top makes a 

 splendid growth in a moist climate. It is therefore suitable for low 

 ground not far from the seashore. It is very resistant to cold. 



Habits of growth: In proper soil it makes a good growth the 

 same year it is sown. It starts comparatively late in spring but 

 when once growing it keeps on until late in the fall. 



Agricultural value: When mixed with other species for hay. 

 Red Top makes a splendid bottom grass and will grow in places too 

 wet for most other grasses. On account of its slow start, it has not 

 as a rule reached full development when the other grasses in the 

 mixture are ready to cut. On the other hand, it produces leaves and 

 stems until late in the fall and is valuable where a second growth 

 is required for pasture. It is liked by all kinds of stock and stands 

 tramping very well, being even induced by it to send out a greater 

 number of rootstocks and runners. It quickly develops into a dense 

 and even sod, but if allowed to grow too long in one place it may be 

 difficult to suppress. It is especially valuable for lawn-making. If 

 used alone, twenty pounds of good seed should be sown to the acre. 



Seed: When grown for seed it should be harvested when the 

 seeds are easily rubbed out. Commercial Red Top, as a rule, con- 

 tains a great amount of chaff. So-called recleaned seed is nothing 

 but ordinary seed from which some of the chaff has been removed. 

 Ordinary commercial seed is reddish brown with a silvery sheen. 

 The more silvery the lustre, the less the chaff and the heavier the 

 weight. When the proportion of chaff is large, the weight is rather 

 low, sometimes not more than eight pounds per bushel. Recleaned 

 seed containing little chaff may weigh as much as thirty-five pounds 

 a bushel. As a rule the seed germinates well as it retains its vitality 

 for several years. 



