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For the Southern States. 83 
well without any renewal on the same ground for thirty-five, nay 
forty years; how much longer, Iam not able to say. It is easily exter- 
minated when the land is desired for other crops. Is there any other 
grass for which so much can be said ? 
RED TOP GRASS. . 
(Agrostis 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. Itis called also Fine Top, Burden’s and Borden’s Grass. 
Varying greatly in characters, according to soil, location, climate and 
culture, some botanists have styled it A. Polymornha. It grows two to 
three feet high, and I have mown it when four feet high. It grows 
well on hill-tops and sides, in ditches, gullies and marshes, but de- 
‘lights in moist bottom land. It is not injured by overfiows, though 
somewhat prolonged. In marshy land it produces a very dense, strong 
network of roots capable of sustaining 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 nutrition. It has 
a tendency, being very hardy, to increase in density of growth and ex- 
tent of surface, and will continue indefinitely, though easily subdued 
by the plow. 
Cut before maturing seed, it makes a good hay and large quantity. 
It seems to grow taller in the Southern States than it does further 
North, and to make more and better hay and grazing. Red Top and 
Timothy, being adapted to the same soil and maturing at the same 
time, do well together, and produce an excellent hay. But the Red Top 
will finally root out Timothy, and if pastured much it will do so sooner. 
Sow about two bushels (24 lbs.) per acre, if alone, in September, 
October, February, or March; if with Timothy for hay, from 6 to 10 
pounds; if with other grasses for pasture, 3 to5 pounds. It isan ex- 
cellent pasture grass, and will grow on almost any kind of soil. 
KENTOCKkY BLEUE GRASS. 
(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 
ereenest of grasses. The P. compressa, flat-staiked meadow grass, 
wire grass, blue grass is blue, ‘the true blue’ grass from which the 
genus received its trivial name. 
Kentucky blue grass, known also in the Kastern States as June 
grass, although esteemed in some parts of America as the best of all 
pasture grasses, seems not to be considered very valuable among Eng- 
lish farmers except in mixtures. Itis certainly a very desirable pas- 
ture grass however. Its very narrow leaves, one, two vor more feet 
long, are in such profusion, and cover the ground to such depth with 
their luxuriant growth, that a mere description could give no one an 
adequate idea of its beauty, quantity, and value; that is on rich land. 
