102 A STUDY OF FARM ANIMALS 



grass of winter, not much other feed being given, and with 

 very good satisfaction. Kentucky blue grass is not usually 

 valued for hay, but is known universally as a valuable pas- 

 ture grass. The hay from 'this grass contains about 5 per 

 cent of digestible protein, and 52 per cent of digestible nutri- 

 ents when grown under average conditions. 



Timothy is a standard grass commonly grown on the 

 heavier soils of the North. It is frequently used for pasture, 

 and makes a highly valued hay for horses. As a pasture 

 grass, timothy is not the best. It does not stand trampling 

 as well as some others, having small bulbs at the ground, 

 with fine roots just beneath them, which are injured by heavy 

 pasturing. This grass is generally somewhat coarse; but, if 

 it is thickly seeded, more plants grow to the acre, and as a 

 result they are finer and more palatable. Timothy cut and 

 cured immediately after the pollen falls from the blossom 

 makes better hay than that from an earlier or older cutting. 

 Under usual conditions, this is an excellent hay for horses, 

 but not so well suited to cattle and sheep. Care should be 

 taken to see that timothy hay is bright and free from dust. 

 Timothy in full bloom contains about 3.5 per cent of digest- 

 ible protein and 51 per cent of total digestible nutrients. 



Millet is grown in a number of varieties. Hungarian 

 grass is the smallest form, and reaches a height usually of 

 about two feet, with a single, small, bristly head. This 

 makes very fair hay, containing about 5 per cent digest- 

 ible protein. German millet is somewhat larger and coarser 

 than Hungarian, and has a larger head, though of the same 

 type. Both these millets may be sown in early summer, and 

 under favorable conditions of heat and moisture they make 

 a very rapid growth and furnish an abundant hay crop in a 

 short season, usually maturing late in August or in Septem- 

 ber. Millets are not generally used in pastures. When 

 heavily seeded they make very good hay for cattle and 

 sheep. Caution should be used in feeding this hay to 



