42 A TEXT-BOOK OF GRASSES 
meadow, the third for pastures and lawns, the fourth as a 
cover, soiling and green manure crop as well as for hay. 
The most important of the clovers and one of our most 
important forage plants is red clover. This thrives in the 
humid region (Par. 110) and is often sown with timothy. 
Its chief use is for hay but it is also used as a cover-crop 
and for green manure. In common with alfalfa and other 
legumes, or even with rape, there is danger of causing 
bloating in cattle and sheep pastured upon clover. 
Alsike is better adapted than is red clover to wet soil 
and hence is utilized in meadows too wet for the latter 
and is usually sown with redtop. Alsike is of some impor- 
tance as a forage plant but the amount used in comparison 
with red clover is insignificant. (See Farmers’ Bulletins 
No. 455 on red clover, No. 550 on crimson clover, No. 
485 on sweet clover, No. 441 on Japan clover.) 
47. Timothy is the great meadow-grass of the north- 
eastern states which produces the standard hay of the 
market. Timothy is not so nutritious as some other 
grasses, yet it is the leading meadow-grass because it 
combines as does no other grass the requisite qualities. 
It is palatable, fairly nutritious, easily grown, and the 
the seed is cheap and of good quality. The cheapness of 
the seed is much influenced by the good seed habits of 
the plant. It produces seed abundantly and the heads 
grow to about the same height, ripen about the same time, 
and do not wastefully shatter the seed. 
Timothy is grown alone or with clover, and in either 
case may be sown with the addition of a nurse-crop of 
grain. It may be sown with wheat in the fall, the clover 
being added in the spring, or with clover in the fall, no 
nurse-crop being used. The addition of the nurse-crop 
is an attempt to gain time while the timothy and clover 
