62 THE FORAGE AND FIBER CROPS IN AMERICA 



well. Timothy produces from 400 to 500 pounds of seed per 

 acre, orchard grass from 200 to 250 pounds of seed per acre. 

 The number of seeds in a pound of timothy is from two to 

 three times that of orchard grass. The germinating power of 

 the latter is rather less. Thus 15 pounds of timothy seed 

 costing 5 cents per pound, or 75 cents per acre, would be 

 as good a seeding as 30 pounds of orchard grass costing 

 20 cents per pound or $6 per acre. If there were a greater 

 demand for orchard grass seed it would probably become 

 somewhat cheaper than at present, since it is not difficult 

 to raise or to prepare for market; but owing to the above 

 circumstances, it probably always will cost four or five times as 

 much to seed an acre of land to orchard grass as to timothy. 



61. Disadvantages. Ordinarily timothy produces but one crop 

 in a season and does not produce much aftermath. It often 

 grows very little for several weeks after the crop is harvested. 

 In hot, dry seasons this lack of vegetation, especially when 

 mown close to the ground, causes the plant to be injured. It is 

 desirable where such danger exists to mow rather high. 

 Timothy is slow to start in the spring. It does not produce 

 a dense sod. When not grazed closely it becomes coarse and 

 woody and is therefore not as palatable for pasture as some 

 other grasses. Its duration is uncertain, especially where 

 closely pastured. It is also more readily injured by tramping, 

 particularly where the ground is soft, than Kentucky blue 

 grass or redtop. 



II. MEADOW FOXTAIL 



62. Description. Meadow foxtail (Alopecurus pratensis L.) 

 is closely related to timothy, for which it may be mistaken; al- 

 though it blooms fully a month earlier, its culms are not so 

 tall, its heads are shorter and more ovoid. (49) Meadow 

 foxtail is distinctly stoloniferous and therefore makes a good 



