738 EXPERIMENT STATION EECORD. [Vol.35 



The results of an investigation of the reproduction of the timothy plant are 

 summarized as follows : "A seed sown in the fall or early spring produces a 

 single plant. In the spring this plant produces a stalk and head. The head 

 flowers and produces seed. A bulb at the base of the stalk enlarges as the 

 stalk increases in height and, about the time the head appears, new shoots 

 spring from the bulb and develop into small plants which are attached and 

 clustered about the central plant. A root system will develop later on each of 

 these new plants, all at the expense of the parent bulb. The parent bulb 

 reaches its full development at about the time the main seed-bearing head is 

 ripe or a little while before. The secondary plants may continue to grow and 

 may produce heads and bear seed before the close of the growing season if the 

 season is favorable and if left undisturbed. Bulbs and roots develop on these 

 new plants largely at the expense of the parent bulbs, which by this time becomes 

 shriveled and soon dies, having fulfilled its function. At the close of the 

 growing season these secondary bulbs are well developed and have established 

 their own root systems. They remain dormant through the winter ; in the 

 spring they send forth the stalks which later head, flower, and produce seed 

 in the usual manner, so the process of regeneration of the previous year is 

 repeated." 



The advantages of clover over timothy in the rotation are pointed out. 



Studies of the tim^othy plant. — II, The chang'es in the chemical composition 

 of the timothy plant during growth and ripening, with a comparative study 

 of the wheat plant, P. F. Trowbridge, L. D. Haigh, and C. R. Motjlton {Mis- 

 souri Sta. Research Bui. 20 {1915), pp. 3-61, figs. 11). — Studies were made of 

 the changes in the chemical composition of the entire timothy plant during 

 growth and ripening as compared with similar changes in the wheat plant. The 

 results are discussed at some length, a review of the literature being included, 

 and the data are given in detail in tables and graphs. For the purpose of the 

 investigation samples of the timothy plant were secured as follows: May 23, 

 1908, when the plants were about 1 ft. high in rapid growth with no heads 

 showing, June 6 when no stalks were in bloom but were beginning to head, June 



18 when in full bloom, June 30 when just out of bloom and the seed formed, 

 July 9 when the seed was in the dough, July 20 when the seed was fully ripe, 

 and March 16, 1909, when growth had not yet started but the plants were con- 

 siderably green. The wheat plant samples were collected as follows : May 23, 

 1908, when the plants were green and in bloom, June 4 when the seed had 

 formed and was in the milk, June 11 when the seed was in the dough, and June 



19 when the seed was fully ripe. 



It was found that the timothy plant took up nitrogen and ash constituents at 

 the most rapid rate and contained the highest percentage and amount of mois- 

 ture in the green plant during its earlier stages of growth. The absorption of 

 plant food continued, but at a decreasing rate corresponding to the decreasing 

 rate of growth, as it approached maturity. The heads increased in dry matter 

 throughout the growing and ripening period. This increase included all the 

 plant constituents except potassium oxid which had reached its maximum be- 

 fore the plants were in full bloom. Nitrogen-free extract increased at the 

 greatest rate of all constituents and as the heads approached full ripening a 

 noticeable increase in phosphorus pentoxid was observed. 



The stalks and leaves increased in dry matter during growth and ripening, 

 the dry matter added consisting chiefly of crude fiber and nitrogen-free extract. 

 Nitrogen, ether-soluble material, potassium oxid, and phosphorus pentoxid in- 

 creased during growth but decreased to some extent during ripening. The bulbs 

 increased in dry matter throughout the growing period but the amount became 

 constant before the ripening of the hay. The matter stored was principally 



