SECRETARY'S REPORT. §5 



inal tubers. All will ultimately perish, either by the drouth of 

 autumn, or the cold of winter. 



5. The tubers, together with one or two of the lower joints of the 

 stalk, remain fresh and green during the winter, if left to take their 

 natural course, but, if by any means, this green portion be severed 

 at any time of the year, the result will be the death of the plant. 



From these five propositions, the following conclusions are 

 drawn : 



1. That Timothy grass cannot, under any circumstances, be 

 adapted for pasture, as the close nipping of horses and sheep is 

 fatal to the tubers, which are also extensively destroyed by swine. 



2. That the proper period for mowing Timothy is at anytime 

 after the process of desiccation has commenced on the stalk, as 

 noticed in proposition third. It is not very essential whether it is 

 performed a week earlier or later, provided that evidence of maturity 

 has become manifest. 



3. All attempts at close shaving the sward should be avoided 

 while using the scythe, and in guaging mowing machines, care 

 should be taken to set them to run *so high that they will not cut 

 the Timothy below the second joint above the tuber. 



Agrostis vulgaris — Redtop of New England — Herdsgrass of 

 Pennsylvania and Southern States. This valuable grass, well 

 known to our farmers, and more commonly cultivated than any 

 other except Timothy, is of European origin, and was introduced at 

 an early period in the settlement of New England. It succeeds 

 best on rather moist soils and grows better than most grasses on 

 wet and cold uplands, producing a goodly quantity of hay, rather 

 light in proportion to its bulk, and of good quality, though not of 

 the very best. Its chief excellence lies in the fact that it is well 

 adapted to our climate, very permanent, equally good for meadows 

 and pastures, and yields a fair crop, both as to quantity and quality. 

 As a pasture grass, it is esteemed for yielding a good and regular 

 growth throughout the season, which is readily eaten by horses and 

 cattle, especially if fed close — if allowed to grow up to seed, it is 

 less relished and often refused. 



This grass varies somewhat in its botanical characters and very 

 much in its size and general appearance, according to the soil and 

 the culture it receives. As seen in poor dry pastures, it is often 



