306 GRASSES AND HOW TO GROW THEM. 



ble proportion of the hay crop in Xew England, but 

 does not appear to be cultivated to any very great ex- 

 tent in other states although indigenous to several of 

 these. In the southern states, it grows well on suit- 

 able soils, but has not been very extensively tried on 

 these. On low lands in the central states, more atten- 

 tion should be given to growing this grass in mixtures 

 than has heretofore been accorded to it. In Ontario 

 also and other parts of Eastern Canada, the grass grows 

 in good form. Its cultivation in Europe does not ap- 

 pear to have been greatly successful. 



Soil. — Soils well supplied with humus are best adapt- 

 ed to the growth of this grass. It will even succeed 

 in slough lands, over-moist for some other grasses. It 

 succeeds admirably on bottom and intervale lands that 

 are occasionally overflowed, and yet it does not stand 

 submergence for any considerable period, especially 

 when the weather is warm. But it will succeed in 

 sands too wet for the ordinary processes of comforta- 

 ble tillage. It will also grow well on uplands which 

 consist of moist warm soil. It should not be sown on 

 dry soils, on stiff nard clays, or on sandy or gravelly 

 soils. 



Place in the Rotation. — This grass is not really a 

 rotation grass, but like redtop it may be made such 

 under ccrtaii^ i<A'idi<;ior,s. (See p. 154.) Its highest 

 adaptation is found in meadows of some permanency. 

 When grovv'n in bottom lands that are readily tillable, 

 it may come after any crop to which clean tillage has 

 been given, as corn or potatoes, and may be followed 

 by any crop or succession of crops adapted to such 



