The Production of New and Improved Varieties of Timothy 371 



would give over $90,000,000 as the estimated annual gain in value that 

 would be obtained if equally good new sorts could be used throughout the 

 country. 



In the State of New York timothy is particularly important, as hay 

 is by far the greatest agricultural crop grown. According to statistics 

 given by the United States Department of Agriculture for 19 10, New 

 York grew in that year 4,811,000 acres of hay, yielding 6,351,000 tons, 

 which was valued at $87,009,000. If half of the New York hay crop 

 was timothy (and this is thought to be a fair estimate) New York grew in 

 19 10 a timothy crop that had a valuation of $43,504,500. If now we 

 could extend the cultivation of the best of these new races all over the 

 State of New York and they would give an increase of 36 3/5 per cent 

 in yield, which was obtained as an average for the 1 7 new races for two 

 years, they would add over $15,922,000 annually to the valuation of the 

 crop in New York. 



It must be remembered that such figures are merely estimates and mean 

 but very little, apart from giving us quickly a comprehension of what 

 such experiments under ideal conditions might mean to the country. 

 The writer would state very emphatically, however, that he believes it 

 would be entirely possible to increase the yield of the crop to this extent 

 if it were possible to have every field of timothy in the State sown with 

 that one of these new varieties best adapted to local conditions. In New 

 York, which is the largest hay-producing State in the Union and the one 

 in which these varieties have been developed, their introduction into 

 cultivation should result in a marked increase in the average yield. 



when can seed of the new sorts be obtained? 



For the next one or two years, it is probable that every seed of the new 

 varieties available will be grown to increase the supply. Every effort 

 will be made to get these varieties into the hands of growers at the earliest 

 possible date. While timothy increases very rapidly, a considerable 

 period must necessarily intervene before the seed will be available in 

 large quantities. The writer would request that growers do not ask for 

 seed at the present time, as it cannot now be supplied. 



A method of improving timothy, recommended for the use of 



FARMERS 



The breeding of corn and potatoes has become common practice with 

 farmers in certain parts of the country, and, while the methods employed 

 are usually simple, they are known to produce excellent results and to 



