Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-06-04
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Red Top.

Prof. Welch Of the Chicago Times says:
Red top is the reverse Of timothy in
almost every essential particular. 1t comes
into the soil easily, and goes out hard. 1t
seems TO be as naturally adapted to our soil
as the native grasses Of the prairie. 1t is
very tenacious of life, enduring heat and cold,
drouth and food. 1t forms firm, compact
sod, uninjured by the feet of animals, or the
flow Of water. 1t produces q succession Of
rich foliage, from early Spring till late
Autumn. 1t will bear close cropping, and
not suffer from the effects of it. 1t occupies
the whole Of tho ground, leaving little chance
for weeds TO grow. 1t spreads from the
roots, and therefore does not require to be
re-seeded every few years, as in the case of
timothy.
Red top is admirably adapted to withstand
heat aud cold Its roots are spreading, so
the7 take firm hold Of the soil. 1t produces
foliage Immediately on the surface OF the
ground, SO that the roots are protected from
tho heat Of the sun and cold Of winter.
They also serve as sort Of mulch, which
prevents injury in time Of severe and long
continued dryness. There is little danger 10
cutting red top too close to the ground, as it
springs up Immediately when pared to the
very surface of the soil. When the late
frosts bite the leaves of red top, they lie
close over the roots, and afford protection
during the winter.
Red top, when green is not the equal Of
blue grass, and when dry is not the equal Of
some sorts Of hay. But in either case it is
above the average Of our wild or cultivated
grasses. Unless it grows unusually rank, is
injured in curing or cut when too ripe, it Is
relished by all kinds Of stock, aud is eaten
very clean. Unless pains are taken in cur
ing and stacking it, there is danger Of its
becoming musty. On rich lands it may
usually be mawn twice in season, and the
second crop will make excellent food for young
cattle. On rich pasture lands it is well to
NOW it after it goes to seed, as by so doing,
6ue crop Of foliage Immediately springs
up after the scythe.
Red top does best on rather cold, moist
soils, and may be grown with the best econ
omy on lands that will not produce good
crops Of corn, grain aud potatoes, in ord-
nary seasons, An excellent location for this
grass is at the foot OF hills and banks, from
which water oozes a considerable portion OF
the year, or where water remains late in the
spring Undrained meadows, where timothy
and other grasses do not flourish we'll, will
produce good crops of red top. The charac.
ter Of this grass varies much, from the soil
and situation where it is produced 90 dry,
gravelly soils it is short, and has hard, wiry
stalks that are little relished by stock, either
as grass or hay.
As an example Of the endurance aud pro-
ductiveuess Of this grass, the writer of this
has an acre of well sown red top, which has
been mown sixteen yeOrs, and never receiv'
ed any manure. Last year it produced over
two tons of excellent hay, and was alter
ward, as in previous seasons, pastured in the
fall A small amount of red clover for
years has maintained itself in this patch OF
red top, aud has apparently been protected
by it, as it has died out in other portions oI
the same field, where it was sown with tim
othy and other grasses.