36 MOUNTAIN CAT'S-TAIL. 



other grasses are better suited to them, and more profit- 

 able. It grows very readily and yields very large crops 

 on favorable soils. I have known instances where its 

 yield was four tons to the acre of the best quality of 

 hay, the Timothy constituting the bulk of the grass. It 

 is cultivated with ease, and yields a large quantity of 

 seed to the acre, varying from ten to thirty bushels on 

 rich soils. 



In one respect, perhaps, it must be admitted that this 

 grass is inferior to meadow foxtail, and that is, in the qual- 

 ity of its aftermath ; for while that of the latter is very 

 great, the aftergrowth of Timothy is comparatively 

 slight, and if allowed to stand too long and then mown 

 in a dry time, it starts so slowly as to leave the ground 

 exposed to the scorching rays of the sun, unless indeed 

 there happens to be a rapid growth of clover to protect 

 it. The comparative value of this grass will be referred 

 to hereafter. 



It is proper to say, in this connection, that it is fre- 

 quently attacked by an insect apparently just before the 

 time of blossoming, which causes the stalk to die. The 

 ravages of this insect seem to have increased within 

 the last few years. My attention has been repeatedly 

 called, by observing and practical farmers, to the large 

 number of Timothy-stalks killed by this devouring in- 

 sect. No means of preventing its ravages are as yet 

 known. 



MOUNTAIN CAT'S-TAIL (PTileum alpinum} is a grass 

 that grows to the height of from six to twelve inches, 

 on mountain and hill tops in New Hampshire, and high 

 northern latitudes, and is easily distinguished by its 

 short, bristly spike or panicle, seldom exceeding an inch 

 in*length. It is of little or no agricultural value, since 

 it is rarely eaten even by sheep. Blossoms in July, 



