518 



STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



the crop is concerned but its usage has been for pasture and green manure 

 rather than as a hay crop. 



Timothy — This is a non-legume hay and one has only to visit the 

 great timothy hay region of Chippewa county to appreciate its place in 

 Upper Peninsula Agriculture. 



At the time when timothy hay received a premium as a great horse 

 feed its place was probably undisputed but horses are on the decline and 

 dairy cattle are on the increase. It is almost an impossibility to buy 

 on the hay market of the Upper Peninsula pure legume hay, yet that 

 is what our feeding experts tell us is required for all classes of livestock 

 other than horses. Why not adapt our farming to changed conditions, 

 produce only enough timothy hay for a limited horse feed market and 

 grow more clover or other legumes for our own livestock? 



TABLE 18 COMPARATIVE FEEDING VALUE OP STANDARD HAY CROPS*. 



•"[Feeds and Feeding" by Hienry and Morrison. 



Bluejoint — This native grass of the sloughs and low grounds of the 

 Upper Peninsula makes a good grass roughage. Its feeding value is 

 nearly equal to that of timothy if it is harvested at the right stage. It 

 should be cut just before bloom, for if allowed to get too ripe it loses in 

 palatability. 



EMERGENCY HAY. 



Emergency hay crops serve a very useful purpose under many condi- 

 tions. Quite frequently something happens to the regular seeding and 

 the hay meadow is reduced for that year. Oftentimes the herd is in- 

 creased without having had an opportunity to increase the meadow land. 

 It is for such conditions as these that we recommend the use of emerg- 

 ency hay crops. 



Peas and Oats — Use a 50-50 mixture by measure of the two seeded at 

 the rate of two and one-half bushels per acre. This mixture is especially 

 good for the heavier soils. Care should be exercised in choosing varie- 

 ties that will mature at about the same time. Wolverine or Swedish 

 oats with Chang tield peas make a good combination. 



Vetch and Oats — Use one bushel of oats to twenty pounds of hairy 

 vetch per acre. This mixture is better than peas and oats for lighter 



