34° Bulletin 313 



When the writer took charge of the experiments in the spring of 1907, 

 a large number of plants grown from seed obtained in various parts of 

 the United States and in foreign countries were under cultivation. These 

 plants were all two to five years of age, were in prime condition for study, 

 and furnished abundant opportunity for making selections of different 

 types as there were about 17,000 individuals. The writer's first task 

 was to study these numerous plants and determine the types that were 

 most likely to prove valuable for general cultivation, also those of greatest 

 interest scientifically, as showing the range of variation exhibited by 

 timothy in its present stage of evolution. Extensive notes regarding the 

 yield of these plants had been taken during previous years but were not 

 compiled and summarized, and the selections were thus made on the 

 evidence that the writer could derive from a study and comparison of 

 the plants in the field. Over two hundred different types were selected 

 for further trial as representing interesting characters from a scientific 

 or practical standpoint. More types were selected from this mass of 

 material in the simmier of 1908, but the types selected in 1907 have formed 

 the basis of the further experiments. 



Notes were again made in 1907 on all the plants of the early plantings, 

 and these notes, with those previously taken, formed the material uti- 

 lized by Doctor Clark in his bulletin on " Variation and Correlation in 

 Timothy," which was brought together and published in 19 10. Had 

 it been possible to make this summary of the variations earlier in the 

 development of the experiments, it would have been a very valuable 

 guide in making the choice of types for the continuation of the work; 

 but it is probable, nevertheless, that the majority of the valuable types 

 were secured by the careful field studies. 



In his work in connection with these experiments the writer was ably 

 assisted throughout the experiments by his head gardener, H. W. Teeter. 

 He is also indebted to his associates. Professors H. H. Love and A. W. 

 Gilbert, for many valuable suggestions and for the direction of the work 

 in his absence from home at various periods. 



TIMOTHY AS AN AGRICULTURAL CROP 



Timothy, scientifically known as Phleum pratense Linn., is one of the 

 true grasses. It is said to have been introduced into Mar^dand from 

 Europe, where it is native, by Timothy Hansen about the year 1720; 

 thus the name " timothy," which is most generally recognized for the 

 grass in cultivation. It is also frequently known as Herd's grass, from a 

 man named Herd who is said to have found it growing wild in New Hamp- 

 shire and begun its cultivation. Timothy has thus been in cultivation 

 in this country for nearly two centuries. It is more extensively grown as 



