142 



PRINCIPAL INTRODUCED FORAGE GRASSES 



The largest yield of the most nutritious hay is obtained if 

 timothy is cut shortly after the blossoms have fallen, but not 

 later than when the seed is in the dough. Yields in excess of 

 4^ tons per acre have repeatedly been reported, but 2| tons is 

 about the average. 



The seed habits of timothy are unusually strong. The yield 

 of seed per acre varies from 5 to 12 bushels. The cutting is done 

 with the ordinary grain or " self " binder, and the bundles are 



dried in shocks. The seed is 

 separated in the regular grain 

 thresher, special sieves being 

 used. 



Orchardgrass. — Orchard- 

 grass (Dactylis glomerata) is 

 known in England as cock's- 

 foot. It is a hardy perennial, 

 though not so resistant to cold 

 and drought as Hungarian 

 brome. It is without root- 

 stocks and forms dense circular 

 tufts several inches in diameter. 

 The culms are smooth, from 2 

 to 4 feet high. The panicle is 

 3 to 6 inches long, bearing a 

 few one-sided clusters of green 

 or purplish spikelets (Fig. 43). 

 Orchardgrass grows wild 

 throughout the greater part of 

 Europe and in northern Asia. 

 The plant was introduced in- 

 to the United States about 

 1740. It is now widely grown 

 as a hay and pasture plant in 

 western Asia, northern Africa, and in various parts of North 

 America. 



As the name orchardgrass would imply, the plant is well 

 adapted to grow in shade. It ranks high in nutrient qualities, 



Fig. 43- — ORCHARDGRASS 



(Daclylis glomerata). 



