GRASSES 



The food for domestic animals derived from pasture 

 and hay crops is one of the most important items in the 

 total of American crops. The average annual produc- 

 tion of hay alone is about sixty miUion tons, while the 

 food derived from pastures is almost beyond calculation. 

 The various grasses are the most important hay crops, 

 although they are often combined with various clovers 

 and in some regions are largely replaced by alfalfa. 

 Timothy or Herd's Grass, Kentucky Blue-grass, and 

 Red Top are most notable as hay and pasture grasses. 



Timothy or Herd's Grass 



Timothy or Herd's Grass (Phleum pratense) is uni- 

 versally recognized as the great hay grass for American 

 farms. It is easily established and easily destroyed 

 when land is plowed for another crop. It yields heavily. 

 The hay is of high food value and is rehshed by both 

 horses and cattle. Seed sown this year will produce a 

 good crop during the next two years and also in subse- 

 quent years if the meadow receives proper top dressings. 

 Red clover is commonly mixed with Timothy in planting. 



Interesting and remarkable results have lately been 

 secured in the breeding of Timothy plants at Cornell 

 University. Variations as to the habits of growth, 

 earliness, yield of leaf and seed, and other characteriza- 

 tions have been found, and definite progress has been 



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