AMERICAN AGRICULTURE. 



throughout the year, when permitted to range over the 

 woods, and through the natural prairies and bottom lands, 

 where these grasses abound. The writer has seen large 

 droves of the French and Indian ponies come into the set- 

 tlements about Green Bay and the Fox River in Wisconsin, 

 in the spring, in good working condition, after wintering, 

 entirely on the natural grasses and browse north of ],at. 44. 

 TIMOTHY, CAT'S TAIL OR HERD'S GRASS (Phleum pratense.) 

 For cultivation in the northern portion of 

 the United States, I am inclined to place the 

 Timothy first in the list of the grasses. It 

 is indigenous to this country, and flourishes in 



kipFNyJi a U s il s except such as are wet, too light, 

 4HE jl dry, or sandy ; and it is found in perfection 

 _j S? HI III on the rich clays and clay loams, which lie 

 between 38 and 44 north latitude. It is a 

 perennial, easy of cultivation, hardy and of 

 luxuriant growth, and on its favorite soil, 

 yields from one and a half to two tons of hay 

 per acre, at one cutting. 



Sinclair estimates its value for hay when 

 in seed,- to be double that cut in flower. 

 From its increased value when ripe, it is cut 

 late ; and in consequence of the exhaustion from maturing its 

 seed, it produces but little aftermath or rowen. For milch 

 cows or young stock, it should be cut when going into 

 flower, and before the seeds have been developed, as it is then 

 more succulent. It vegetates early in the spring, and when 

 pastured, yields abundantly throughout the season. Both 

 the grass and hay are highly relished by cattle, sheep, and 

 horses ; and its nutritive quality, in the opinion of practical 

 men, stands decidedly before any other. It is also a valua- 

 ble crop for seed, an acre of prime grass yielding from 15 

 to 25 bushels of clean seed, which is worth in the market 

 from $1 50 to $4 50 per bushel; and the stalks and the 

 chatf that remain, make a useful fodder for most kinds of 

 stock. 



It may be sown upon wheat or rye, in August or Septem- 

 ber, or in the spring. When sown either alone, or with other 

 grasses, early in the season, and on a rich soil, it will pro- 

 duce a good crop the same year. From its late ripening, it 

 is not advantageously grown with clover, unless upon heavy 

 clays, which hold back the clover. I have tried it with the 

 northern or mammoth clover, on clay, and found the latter, 



Fio. 4. 



