84 THE GEASSES OF TENNESSEE. 



BED-TOP— HERDS GRASS— {Agrostis vulgaris.) 



Erect stems, slender, smooth, polished, round; roots creeping, pan- 

 icle oblong, leaves linear, ligule very short, lower palese mostly awnless, 

 and stem nerved. Flowers in July. 



It was introduced from England, where it was known as 

 Bent grass. When first cultivated it went by the name of 

 English grass. There are many species now raised in 

 England, which are still known as Fine Bent. It is scattered 

 over the whole State and but few old pastures are free from 

 it, but there it is so dwarfed by close grazing and treading 

 that it shows to but little advantage. It is commonly 

 called in these situations fine-top. 



Next in importance to timothy as a meadow grass stands 

 Herds grass. Unlike the former, it also makes a good 

 grazing grass — in fact grazing is necessary to its preserva- 

 tion, as, if allowed to go to seed a few year's, it dies out. It 

 loves a moist soil, and on swampy places that will grow 

 scarcely anything else, herds grass will thrive wonderfully. 

 It is the most permanent grass we have, 

 and by means of its long, creeping roots, 

 will even, if sown too thin, quickly 

 take possession of the ground. It is 

 greedily eaten, while young and tender, in 

 the spring by all kinds of stock, and affords 

 a fine nourishing hay, though in less quantity 

 per acre than timothy. It grows from two 

 to three feet high, and with its purplish 

 panicles, when in full bloom, presents a 

 most charming sight in its soft feathery un- 

 dulations. 



It is oftener mixed with other grasses than sown alone, 

 especially with timothy and clover. But it fails to come 

 into harvest as early as clover, and the same objections may 

 be urged against it that are to timothy. It yields, on moist 

 bottom land, from one and a half to two tons per acre, but 

 on uplands it is not a good producer. On thin lands it will 



