FOR THE SOUTHERN STATES. 83 
enable it to sustain itself and grow vigorously 
during droughts that dry up other grasses, ex- 
cept tall oat grass, which has similar roots and 
characteristics. It grows well in open lands and 
in forests of large trees, the underbrush being 
all cleared off. Ihave had it grown luxuriantly 
even in beech woods, where the roots are super- 
ficial, in the crotches of roots and close to the 
trunks of trees. The hay is of high quality, 
Red Top Grass. 
and the young grass contains a larger per 
centage of nutritive digestible matter than 
any other grass. It thrives well without any 
renewal on the same ground for thirty-five, 
nay forty years; how much longer, I am not 
able to say. It is easily exterminated when 
the land is desired for other crops. Is there 
any other grass for which so much can be 
said ? 
RED TOP CRASS. 
(Agrosis Vulgaris. ) 
This is the best grass of England, the 
herd grass of the Southern States; not in 
honor of any man, but probably, because 
so well adapted to the herd. It is called 
also Fine ‘Top, Burden’s and Borden’s 
Grass. Varying greatly in character, ac- 
cording to soil, location, climate and 
culture, some botanists have styled it A. 
Polymorpha. It grows two to three ft. high, 
and I have mown it when four feet high. 
It grows well on hill tops and sides, in 
ditches, gullies and marshes, but delights 
in moist bottom land. It is not injured 
by overflows, though somewhat prolonged. 
In marshy land it produces a yery dense, 
strong network of roots capable of sus- 
taining the weight of men and animals 
walking over it. 
It furnishes considerable grazing during 
warm ‘‘spells” in winter, and in spring 
and summer an abundant supply of nu- 
trition. It has a tendency, being very 
hardy, to increase in density of growth and 
extent of surface, and will continue in- 
definitely, though easily subdued by the 
plow. 
Cut before maturing seed, it makes a 
good hay and large quantity. It seems to 
erow taller in the Southern States than it 
does further North, and-to make more and better hay and grazing. Ked Top and Timothy, 
being adapted to the same soil and maturing at the same time, do well together and produce 
an excellent hay. 
do so sooner. 
But the Red Top will finally root out Timothy, and if pastured much it will 
Sow about two bushels (28 lbs.), per acre, if alone, in September, October, February, or 
March; if with Timothy for hay, from 6 to ten pounds; if with other grasses for pasture, 3 to 
5 pounds. 
It is an excellent pasture grass, and will grow almost on any kind of soil. 
KENTUCKY BLUE CRASS. 
(Poa Pratensis. ) 
’ 
This is also called smooth meadow grass, 
spear grass, and green grass, all three very 
appropriate characteristic names. But Blue 
is a misnomer for this grass. It is not blue, 
but green as grass, and the greenest of grasses. 
The P. Compressa, flat-stalked meadow grass, 
wire grass, blue grass is blue, ‘the true blue’ 
erass from which the genus received its trivial 
name. 
Kentucky blue grass, known also in the 
Eastern States as June grass, although esteem- 
ed in some parts of America as the best of all 
pasture grasses, seems not to be considered 
very valuable among English farmers except 
in mixtures. It is certainly a very desirable 
pasture grass however. Its very narrow 
leaves, two or more feet long, are in such pro- 
fusion and cover the ground to such depth 
with their luxuriant growth, that a mere des- 
cription could give no one an adequate idea of 
its beauty, quantity and value; that is on rich 
land. On poor, sandy land, it degenerates 
sadly, as do other things uncongenially located. 
Perennial, and bearing cold and drought 
well, it furnishes grazing a large part of the 
year. It is specially valuable as a winter and 
spring grass for the South. To secure the best 
winter results, it should be allowed a good 
growth in early fall, so that the end of the 
leaves, being killed by the frost, afford an 
ample covering for the under-part which con- 
tinue to grow all winter, and afford a good bite 
