308 GRASSES AND HOW TO GROW THEM. 



tiire grass it serves a better purpose in mixtures than 

 alone. 



Harvesting for Hay. — In the northern states fowl 

 meadow grass blossoms in July and August. It is 

 best cut when in flower. But if not harvested at that 

 time, the stems fall down and especially from the lower 

 joints other flower stems are sent up. Because of this 

 habit of growth the grass suffers little through deferred 

 cutting. In fact it has been claimed that the highest 

 production in weight and nutrition is obtained for the 

 hay that is cut late. It may be cut any time from July 

 to October and is harvested in the same way as tim- 

 othy, but will probably require more time on an aver- 

 age to cure because of its softness. Jared Elliott 

 claimed that it would make better hay for shipping 

 than timothy but the testimony of the intervening years 

 has demonstrated that the opposite is true. 



Securing Seed. — It is not so easy to secure the seed 

 of this grass as of some others, owing to the lodging 

 habit which characterizes it. To cut it with the binder 

 set high would seem to be one of the best ways of cut- 

 ting the grass for seed, but the author cannot cite any 

 instance based on actual experience in which the work 

 has been done in this way. The part left uncut could 

 then be pastured or even cut for hay. Much care is 

 required in threshing and cleaning the seed. Average 

 yields may be set down at 6 to 7 bushels per acre. As it 

 is not easy to distinguish the seed from that of some 

 other varieties of grass, it is much adulterated. That is 

 one reason why it, and several other more or less useful 

 grasses, are not sown to a greater extent than they are. 



