GRASSES OF IOWA 



323 



'dusty,' which is avoided by waiting. It sometimes happens 

 that, on account of lack of moisture, the first growth is light, 

 and abundant ra ns in June or July may cause a strong second 

 growth to spring up, which will not be in its prime until the 

 first has reached an advanced stage of development. In such 

 cases it would be more profitable to cut late, provided the 

 proper precautions are observed as to the condition in which 

 the sod should be left. There is a growing sentiment in favor 

 of cutting timothy with the self-binder for hay as well as for 

 seed, and the practice has much to commend it. With right 

 treatment the hay cures well, is much more easily handled and 

 fed, and can be stored in a more limited space than when cut 

 in the ordinary way. ' ' 



Timothy hay may be decidedly improved by growing a small 

 amount o' clover along with it, nor is bluegrass mixture objec- 

 tionable, except where present the grass must be cut early. 

 Timothy cannot be pastured when the soil is dry, as stock is 

 very liable to injure the bulbs, but in low meadows it stands 

 grazing fairly well in the spring, but cattle should not te 

 allowed to graze on it in the fall. If timothy is to be used for 

 grazing purposes it should be in a meadow containing blue- 

 grass, timothy and clover. The clover readily perpetuates 

 itself and helps the timothy, in thac the soil is less compact. 



CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF TIMOTHY. 



Four samples of the grass were analyzed in the station 

 laboratory with the following results: 



Sample 1. May 16, 1896, 12-16 inches high. 



Sample 2. May 26, 1896, 24-25 inches higb. 



Sample 3. June 8, 1896, 40-42 inches high. 



Samp e 4. June 18, 1896, .39-40 inches high. 



NATURAL CONDITION. 



Sample 1 

 Sample 2 

 Sample 3 

 Sample 4 



.t: a- 



7.00 



8.83 



9.78 



12.. o6 



