SEEDING TIMOTHY WITHOUT A GRAIN CROP* 



Edwatjd Van Alstyne 



Director of Farmers' Institutes 



What I have to say on this subject 

 relates wholly to land best adapted to hay, 

 not to cases where the crop is grown in a 

 short rotation chiefly for the benefit ob- 

 tained from the clover, — which unfor- 

 tunately often fails to materialize — under 

 which conditions a grain crop will usually 

 2;ive a greater return. I have a number 

 of acres of this kind of land. I have also 

 many acres of natural grass laud on which 

 hay pays better than any other crop. On 

 such land I have found it much better to seed with grass alone 

 rather than in combination with a grain crop. There is no 

 question but that on this kind of land an acre of hay will return 

 a larger net income than an acre of wheat or rye, both of which 

 will require much more la])or and expensive machinery. f In such 

 cases, unless .the straw is needed on the farm, I can s&e no object 

 in growing the gTain as a money crop ; furthennore, no land will 

 give as high yields of hay where a grain crop has eaten at the 

 first table. 



In seeding with spring grain, such as oats or barley, there is 

 an advantage in the labor saved, an item not to be ignored. 

 Nevertheless, if hay is the object, an extra fitting and seeding, 

 as I shall outline, will give ample return for labor expended. 

 What I shall say is based on personal experience ; hence I may be 

 excused from what may seem too much of personal method, as this 

 is a sort of heart-to-heart talk, or experience meeting. 



My experience in seeding with spring grain has been very 

 unsatisfactory. There are likely to be a good many weeds, 



♦Address given at Farmers' Day Mooting, Fort Edward, March 22, 1916. 



fThis statement would not be true with present war prices for grain. Nevertheless, under 

 normal conditions it ia good advice. 



[r,s.- 1 



