100 



DESCRIPTION OF FEEDING STUFFS 



Timothy (Pldeum pratense) is the common hay crop of north- 

 eastern United States, being grown either mixed with red clover or 

 in pure seeding. The mixed timothy and clover makes the more 

 valuable hay of the two, because of the larger protein content and 

 the lower fiber content of this hay. Timothy is a favorite hay 

 with farmers and, especially, horse owners; the main reasons for 

 this preference are: Clean, good timothy seed is generally available 

 at a low price; timothy is quickly established, and usually holds 

 well ; it may be readily cured into clean, bright hay, which is rather 

 free from dust and may be handled without much waste. 



Timothy is especially adapted for 'feeding horses, while it has 

 a relatively low value for growing animals or dairy cattle. For 

 these animals it is greatly improved by a liberal admixture of clover. 

 The yields of timothy hay obtained depend on the character of the 

 soil, the climatic conditions, thickness of planting, and also, to a 

 large extent, on th6 time of cutting. The following table prepared 

 by Hunt 8 shows the yield per acre of the dry matter of timothy 

 cut at different stages as indicated, according to trials at three 

 experiment stations : 



Influence of Maturity of Timothy on Yield of Dry Matter, Pounds per Acre 



The largest yield of dry matter was obtained in all three cases 

 when the timothy was cut at a late period of growth, when the seed 

 was nearly ripe. The quality of the late-cut hay is poorer than that 

 cut earlier, as we have seen, both as regards chemical composition 

 and digestibility. Hence it is generally recommended to cut timothy 

 when in full bloom or just out of bloom. Late cutting does not 

 greatly decrease the palatability of the hay to horses, but renders 

 it practically worthless when used as sole roughage for young stock, 

 dairy cows, and sheep. 



Red or alsike clover, according to Henry, should always be sown 

 with timothy, for the combination furnishes more and a superior 

 quality of hay than timothy alone, even for horses. " Grown to- 

 gether, the hay of the first season will consist largely of clover. 



8 " Forage and Fiber Crops of America," p. 59. 



