Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-03-20
REDTOP.

The botanical name Of this grass is Agros-
tbs rulgariS. 1t is very widely diffused,
and is found, in greater or less proportion,
in most fields, thriving best in low, moist
places. The name dgroStiS is derived from
the Greek word aqroS. which signifies
field, and is indicative of the fac: Just men.
toned, of its almost universal presence where
grass is to be found In England, it is COM
monty called bent grass, " and IN some
parts Of the United States it is known by the
name Of herds grass, though that title is
usually given to timothy. Cuthbert w.
johnson says; There has been much pre-.
judice existing against the different species
of AgrOstis in general but let the proprie-
tor of a rich, ancient pasture divest part oi
it of this grass entirely, and the value OF the
plant will be demonstrated in the compara-
tive loss of late and early herbage. 1t is
probably of less nutritive value in this coun.
try than in England, rather humid cli-
mate, being best adapted to it, and a hot
droughty summer being apt TO make it dry
and wiry. Notwithstanding this drawback,
it is an important member of the family of
grass and forage plants, and we'll worthy Of
CulllNullOu lHCduOW anu pasture uses.
Redtop is probably well enough known to
all our readers to render minute description
unnecessary, still it may not be amiss to give
in brief its botanical characteristics. Flint
in his useful treatise on " Grasses and For
age Plants, enumerates them as follows -
Stems erect, slender, round. smooth, and
polished roots creeping, paniole oblong,
leaves linear, ligule very short lower palea
mostly awniess, and three nerved. " There
are many varieties of Agrostis, closely re.
sembling each other This grass is rather
variable in its botanical qualities, and hence
it has received as one Of its specific names,
that of Agrostis pOlymorpha, to indicate the
many forms in which it is prone to appear
Differences of soil and available nutriment
account to some extent, for these dlvers-
ties.
RedtOp or common bent grass, is one 'oi
the earliest of the AgroStiS family, and in
this respect is more valuable, though it is in.
ierior to some Of them in the quantity of pro-
duce it yields Hardy, and prompt growth,
it is well suited to our late, short springs,
giving the meadows and pastures green
tinge, and affording stock IA bite of fresh
herbago, very soon after the snow is off the
ground Later in the season. other grasses
are preferred to it, but after "a long winter :
feeding on dry forage, when taste OF green
food OF any kind is very ioothsome, this
grass comes into good use. 1t is the most
common grass on natural sandy pastures, and
even on heavier soils, is frequent, 1t is OF
good, permanent habit, and therefore well
suited for pastures, requiring however, to be
| fed close, as cattle refuse it, if allowed to get
old and run to seed Left TO its natural
course, it flowers from the third week Of
June till the second week in July, and the
seed ripens early in August.
Red top is usually sown with timothy and
common red clover. Thus employed, il
gradually obtains possession of the soil, il
conjunction with various wild grasses, and
forms close swArd, the clover and timothy
disappearing in due course. 1t is less valu
able for hay than for pasturage, not grow
ing to any great height, except in moist, rich
soils, and being apt then to be tough saples:
and wiry, Much, however, depends, as il
the case Of all the grasses, on the time Of
cutting, aud the manner of curing. 1t should
be mown while green and juicy, before thu
maturing of seed has converted the stems in
to that strawy condition, which is so fata
to the feeding qualities of hay. Over-cur
ing OF redtop is common error, as indeed
it is of other grasses. Being fine, slender
stalked plant, it needs only to be rid of su
perAuOus moisture, and wilted, to be ready
to carry. One good hay day is enough to Il
it for the stack or NOW. 1t cannot be m
mended as yielding sufficiently heavT pro
duct to be profitable; but, cut early anC
nicely saved, horses and cattle will eat il
readily aud even greedily,
In laying down land to grass, whether TO
pasturage or moving, it is desirable to use
greater variety Of seeds than is commonl,
done. Especially is this remark applicabl,
to pasturage. Seasons vary, and are NOR
favorable to certain kinds than to others, a
they change in their course Grasses diffs
in their periods of starting into growth an,
coming to maturity. A constant succession
OF succulent herbage is what is wanted. Thi
is best obtained by sowing variety of grass
es, aud in every mixture It is we'll to have