SOILS FOR TIMOTHY IN NEW YORK 



Elmer O. Fippin, Ithaca, N. Y. 



Professor of Soil Technology, Cornell University 



^^^^^^^^^^^1 Soils that are good for timothy must 



^^^eS^^^^^H meet the needs of the timothy plant. 



^^W ;^^^^p^ They must fit the structural characters 



^B.&^^^^^ ' and the physiological requirements of 



^H Jt'j^m^m ^^® timothy plant. We shall first re- 



^^m, ^^^ I view these requirements of the plant 



^^^■giflF'^^K^ I with which the soils of the state are* to 



^^^^I^J^^^^M ^6 compared. 



SOIL CHARACTERISTIC OF THE TIMOTHY PLANT 



Timothy is a forage plant that is valuable for its large leafy 

 growth and palatable nutritious quality. It is a grass and is 

 therefore dependent for its nitrogen supply on suitable compounds 

 of that element in the soil. A generous supply makes for good 

 quality. This suggests a soil rich in organic matter, which is 

 the prime storehouse of nitrogen in the soil. 



The root sy&tem is fibrous and penetrates rather deeply into 

 the soil. Roughly, its depth of penetration may be measured 

 by the height of the mature plants, which is three to four feet. 

 The bulk of the roots is near the surface — within ten inches, per- 

 haps. This suggests the importance of a friable soil and fair 

 drainage. The fine, fibrous nature of the roots adapts them to 

 the heavier soils — the clays, clay loams, and loam soils. 



No studies seem to have been made of the water requirements 

 of the timothy plant. It may be assumed to be like wheat, which 

 belongs to the same family, and has the same type of root system 

 and similar adaptations to climate. This would make the water 

 requirements medium to high. A structural peculiarity of the 

 plant — the corms on the stems — suggest its ability to with- 

 stand periods of rather dry weather. Some of the traditions of 



[5r,7] 



