LAWNS AND LAWN-MAKING 



205 



closely related to Kentucky blue-grass. The latter 

 closely resembles it, but the former is a lighter green 

 in color, and the leaves are more shining. Both are 

 adapted to use in shaded situations in the sections 

 where blue-grass and redtop are used. They can also 

 be used farther south because protected from the heat 

 by the shade under which they grow. 



Redtop (Agrostis alba L. ) . This is one of our best- 

 known grasses, and, though rather coarse in foliage, 

 lends itself well to lawn-making. It forms a close, 

 durable sward, soft in texture where mowed frequently 

 to induce the production of fine foliage. Neither cold 

 nor heat are specially injurious to it, but moist, clayey 

 soils are preferred. In the region of L,akes Erie and 

 Ontario and in the upper Atlantic Coast redtop is largely 

 used, both in mixtures and alone. It forms a large 

 percentage in practically all the lawn-grass mixtures 

 sold in this country, and on the whole is one of the 

 best grasses for the purpose. It has a special field 

 in the moist and somewhat acid soils of the lower 

 New England States and the northern Atlantic Coast, 

 where blue-grass does not thrive. 



Two similar and closely related species are creeping 

 bent (Agrostis stolonifera) and Rhode Island bent (A. 

 canina) . The former is regarded as a variety of redtop, 

 but is much finer in habit and foliage, and produces the 

 softest and most velvety turf of any grass in this coun- 

 try. Rhode Island bent is intermediate in habit and 

 texture between the other two. All are adapted to the 

 same conditions of soil and climate. Rhode Island bent 

 is largely used in Rhode Island and Connecticut, 

 where practically all the seed is grown. 



