384 FARMERS' INSTITUTES. 



Grasses for Marshes. 



Agrostis vulgaris (Red top). 



Festuca pratensis (Meadow fescue). 



Fesiuca elatior (Tall fescue). 



Poa serotina (Fowl meadow). 



Poa pratensis (June grass, Blue grass of Kentucky). 



Alopecurus prate7isis (Meadow foi-tail). 



Deyeuxia (Calamagratis), Canadensis (Blue joint). 



TIMOTHY (PHLEUM PRATEKSE). 



This is the best known, most extensively sown, and one of the most 

 profitable grasses of any in the United States. In Pennsylvania and some 

 ■other States, Agrotis vulgaris is called " herd's grass," while at the north 

 this is known as "red top." There are several other grasses called ''cat's 

 tail" in different portions of our country. The first common name comes 

 from Timothy Hanson, of Maryland, who introduced the grass from England 

 about 1720. The next name comes from a man by the name of Herd, who 

 found it growing in New Hampshire and began its cultivation. 



lu 1760 or '61, Peter Wyncli took seeds of it from Virginia to England. 

 It is a native of Europe, and very likely also indigenous to some portions of 

 the United States. It is widely distributed in north Africa, western Asia, 

 and other portions of the world. Timothy is a perennial not likely to be 

 mistaken for any other grass, and in fact this is about the only one that is 

 generally known by all farmers. 



The leaves are short and flat, and on good soil the stem is from two to 

 four or mere feet high, each bearing one stiff, erect, rough spike, long, and 

 as thick as a lead pencil. The plant is rather coarse to the touch and 

 sight. 



Having a large bulk of stems, with few leaves, the hay wastes but little in 

 transportation. The grass stands up well, the hay is easily cured, heavy for 

 its bulk, presents a good appearance, and suffers less than many other 

 grasses when allowed to go to seed before cutting. 



Every one in town and country knows the grass as soon as he sees it, and 

 can distinguish it from all others, hence a leading reason why it is raised, 

 fed and sold. Consumers buy timothy, and fear to buy anything else, even 

 though it were better, because they do not know what it is. They will buy 

 even if it is dead ripe. 



The same remark applies to a Avell-knowii and popular grass, perennial 

 rye grass, generally raised in England. After a long time if a grass or 

 fruit becomes well known, and it has good qualities if not the best, people 

 buy it because they know what they are getting. 



In this country timothy is often sown alone, at the rate of about eleven 

 pounds to the acre. The sowing usually occurs in autumn with wheat or 

 rye, or in the spring with oats or barley. It is often sown as the only forage 

 crop on moist land or on strong, clay loam, but on lighter land it is usual to 

 sow on some red clover also. If quite sandy, clover without any true grass 

 is generally sown. Timothy is two to four weeks behind red clover in coming 

 into flower ready for the mower. Among its other good qualities, timothy 

 seeds very freely, yielding six to ten or more bushels of cleaned seed to the 



