10 BULLETIN 692, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
tically unlimited quantities of the seed could be gathered in New 
England and New York, and it is hoped that the conditions existing 
will bring about its commercial reestablishment. Even in competi- 
tion with South German mixed bent there would continue to be a 
large demand for Rhode Island bent, so that the industry of gathering 
the seed should be permanent. 
Rhode Island bent only rarely produces creeping stolons or run- 
ners, and these when present seldom exceed 6 inches in length. Single 
plants of Rhode Island bent rarely form patches of turf more than 
6 inches in diameter. 
Inasmuch as it seems advisable to drop the name Agrostis capil- 
laris L., the name to be used should be the oldest one that undoubt- 
edly belongs to Rhode Island bent. This is Agrostis tenuis Sib- 
thorp, 1794, while Agrostis vulgaris With. dates from 1796. It is 
desirable that seedsmen use the name Agrostis tenuis in connection 
with Rhode Island bent, as Agrostis vulgaris has too commonly but 
erroneously been associated with redtop. 
Rhode Island bent makes a very fine turf, dark green in color, and 
is apparently a pure strain in this respect. The seed may contain a 
small percentage of redtop, as this coarser grass is not rare in some 
New England pastures, but the percentage of redtop is seldom 
enough to be noticeable in the resultant turf. 
From the practical standpoint of growing fine turf there is little 
reason to prefer any other bent to Rhode Island bent. The latter 
grass is so abundant in New England and New York that prac- 
tically limitless quantities of seed could be gathered. With care, 
fields containing an appreciable quantity of redtop may be avoided, 
as when in bloom redtop is easily distinguished by its taller habit, 
broader leaves, coarser panicle, and longer hgule. 
In view of these facts, it seems highly desirable that American 
seedsmen handle Rhode Island bent seed on its merits. There seems 
to be no reason why the New England seed can not be gathered at 
least as cheaply and probably more so than the South German mixed 
bent. It is not unlikely that special seed-gathering machines may be 
adapted or devised to further this industry. At present a vast quan- 
tity of this seed goes to waste, as even on well-grazed pastures the 
seed crop is little diminished. 
COLONIAL BENT. 
During the last few years seed from New Zealand has been put on 
the market under the names colonial bent and browntop. Turf and 
plants grown from this seed show it to be identical with Rhode Island 
bent. | 
