246 TwENTY-FiEST Biennial Eepobt 



not hurt it. Drought does not injure it as badly as it 

 does blue grass. It has a peculiar value for growing in 

 shade, where it thrives better, perhaps, than any grass 

 we have. In England it is very commonly sown in or- 

 chards because of this peculiarity, and the fact has given 

 it its name, orchard grass. 



In the absence of blue grass in some sections of 

 eastern and western Kentucky, farmers there must for 

 the present be content with orchard grass, and other 

 species. Red-top is frequently grown in the west with 

 success. It seems to do better there than at Lexington, 

 because of the fact that the sub-soil is of such character 

 that it holds water better than ours, and red-top thrives 

 with its roots pretty well soaked with water. We have 

 grown the grass in the plots with only moderate success. 

 With a wet season it does very well; at other times, 

 it is not very productive, and runs out in the course of 

 three or four years, like timothy. The hay is good, be- 

 ing moderately fine, and nutritious. In wet places along 

 ditches the grass is often seen growing spontaneously. 

 Its position as a permanent part of our agricultural 

 assets seems to me somewhat uncertain unless it can 

 be greatly improved. It persists chiefly because of lack 

 of something better. One serious objection to it, con- 

 stantly brought to our attention in the examination pf 

 seeds, is the general presence of ergot among the seeds. 

 Certain diseases of stock are attributed to this fungus 

 in hay, and it would not be surprising if we should 

 learn some time that red-top is responsible for some of 

 the little-understood troubles to which stock is subject. 



Timothy is a valuable grass for Kentucky, but has 

 always seemed to me not well adpted to our soil, and at 

 any rate much of our hay comes from outside of the 

 State. With a good season, fine growths may be seen 

 in Blue Grass Kentucky, and as good ones in the west- 

 ern part of the State, where, in fact, the soil seems bet- 

 ter adapted to the plant. Timothy wants a good deal 

 of water, and a good soil that holds water tenaciously 

 is likely to show a better growth than one from which 

 the water is likely at times to be exhausted. The plant 

 is not sufficiently long-lived here. 



