The Grasses, Fresh and Oiired. 187 



stock farms, for the yield of forage is too small to warrant adher- 

 ence to this crop alone for farm -horse feed. Fodder corn, hay 

 from the cereals, and bright straw are substitutes that may be 

 fed with economy and satisfaction to all horses not required for 

 road work. 



Timothy meadows afford but little aftermath, and if pastured 

 at all closely this grass is easily destroyed. Eed clover should be 

 grown with timothy, if possible, for the combination furnishes a 

 superior hay both in quantity and quality for many purposes. 

 When grown together, the hay produced the first season after 

 seeding will consist largely of clover. Many of the clover roots 

 die at the end of this season, and the nutriment from these 

 nourishes the timothy plants, which spring into ascendency the 

 second season, yielding a hay in which clover forms the smaller 

 portion. (478) 



269. Orchard grass. — This grass starts very early in the spring 

 an(i ripens about two weeks in advance of timothy. For this rea- 

 son it associates well with red clover. Hay from orchard grass 

 is inclined to be harsh, woody and lacking in aroma, and is not 

 particularly relished by stock. These defects can be partially 

 overcome by cutting the grass very early. Orchard grass does 

 not form an even, dense sod, but grows in tufts or tussocks, for 

 which reason it should not be sown alone, but with other grasses 

 and with clovers. Mixed with other grasses, orchard grass serves 

 a useful pm-pose in pastures, and under favoiable conditions will 

 hold its OAvn indefinitely. 



Tracy, of the Mississippi Station, ^ reports orchard grass as 

 making a better winter growth on heavy clay soils than any other 

 species tested. In that region it commences growth in February 

 and yields hay in ]\Iay. 



270. Redtop. — This widely disseminated grass of several spe- 

 cies is especially valuable on damp, low lands, where it forms 

 a close turf, furnishing excellent pasture and a valuable hay, 

 composed of fine stems and rather numerous leaves. Eedtop 

 appears indigenous to Northern meadows and should be more 

 generally grown wherever the land is suitable. 



1 Bui. 20. 



