50 THE FORAGE AND FIBER CROPS IN AMERICA 



tion of the grades of hay, which is binding upon buyer and 

 seller. (C. A. 191) 



46. Commercial Grades. The commercial grades vary some- 

 what in the different cities, but in general are based upon the 

 same factors principally the purity, color, and quality of the 

 hay, and the character of the baling. The word "hay" in 

 American markets, when not otherwise qualified, is construed 

 to mean timothy hay, and any other plant, even though it be 

 a cultivated grass, is considered an impurity. The color and 

 quality depend largely on the time of cutting and on the curing, 

 but they also depend somewhat on locality. Some localities 

 produce a timothy which cures a greener color than others. 

 There are, therefore, only certain localities which produce 

 prime hay. Whether these differences are due to climate, soil, 

 cultural methods, or to the strains of seed used has not 

 been determined. 



The table following gives the classes and grades of hay 

 recognized by the New York Hay Exchange. The price per 

 ton on a given day is included to show the relative value placed 

 upon the different grades by the trade. These values will 

 vary relatively from time to time, depending on the supply 

 and demand. 



Rules for Grading Hay 



Price 

 per ton 



PRIME TIMOTHY HAY Shall be pure timothy of medium growth, bright 



color, sweet, sound, and well baled ..... $23.00 



No. 1 HAY Shall be timothy, not more than one-eighth (^) mixed 

 with other tame grasses, exclusive of clover, bright color, 

 sweet, sound, and well baled . . . . . .22.00 



No. 2 HAY Shall include all timothy not good enough for No. 1, fair 

 in color, not more than one-eighth (^5) other tame grasses 

 exclusive of clover, sound, and well baled . . . .19.50 



No. 3 HAY Shall include all hay not good enough for other grades, 

 not over one-third (1/3) clover, free from wild or bog, 

 sound, and well baled . . . . . . . .16.00 



