GRASS SOILS AND FERTILIZERS 



29S 



373. Soils and Fertilizers. Timothy grows best on clay 

 loam soils which are retentive of moisture, though it thrives 

 on quite a variety of soils. It grows better in moist climates 

 then in dry ones, and on fertile loams than on sandy soils. 

 It does not grow well on very acid soils, redtop being a much 

 better grass for such locations. The liberal use of stable 

 manure will greatly increase the yield of timothy, while the 

 plowing under of a 



leguminous crop be- / f 



fore sowing, or the use 

 of nitrogenous fertiliz- 

 ers also produces a 

 heavier growth. In 

 fact, some benefit is 

 derived from the ni- 

 trogen stored in the 

 soil by leguminous 

 crops, such as clover, 

 which grow with the 

 timothy. Phosphate 

 fertilizer is also productive of a good response. 



374. Seed and Seeding. Timothy seed weighs from 42 

 to 50 pounds to the bushel, according to its cleanness from 

 hulls. The legal weight in most states is 45 pounds. The 

 usual rate of seeding is from 8 to 12 pounds to the acre, 

 though 15 pounds is sometimes sown. When sown with 

 clover, 7 to 10 pounds of timothy is sown with from 5 to 8 

 pounds of clover. Good, clean seed of a high percentage of 

 germination should be used. Timothy seed is less subject 

 to adulteration than the seed of many of the other grasses 

 and clovers. Redtop, orchard grass, and other grass seeds 

 are sometimes found in it, but usually in small quantities 

 only. * The seed is best sown with a broadcast seeder of the 

 wheelbarrow type, though any of the common methods are 

 generally satisfactor5% A light harrowing after seeding will 



Figure 100. — Seeds of timothy; a, with husk, 

 enlarged; b, husk removed, enlarged; c, nat- 

 ural size. 



