GRASSES 197 



246. Timothy. Timothy is a native of Europe and was 

 originally called meadow cat's-tail, from the resemblance of the 

 head to a cat's tail. Timothy Hanson, whose first name it now 

 bears, brought it to America from England in 1720. Timothy 

 was not considered of any agricultural importance in Europe 

 until after it had been cultivated with success in the Amer- 

 ican colonies and had been taken back to England thirty or 

 forty years afterwards, carrying with it its new name. In New 

 England timothy is frequently known as herd's grass because it 

 was introduced into New Hampshire by John Herd. 



It is easy to understand why timothy ranks so high as a hay 

 grass when we realize that it is the heaviest yielding hay grass 

 known ; the hay is palatable, easy to cure and keep, and is 

 standard on all the markets of the country ; a stand endures 

 for years, and is quickly and cheaply obtained. This grass, 

 therefore, meets the requirements of the hay farmer who 

 wants to maintain a stand for a number of years, and also 

 fits well into the plans of the farmer who practices a short 

 rotation. 



247. How long timothy should stand. A stand of timothy 

 on rich land or if properly fertilized and not cropped or pas- 

 tured too heavily will last almost indefinitely. The most gener- 

 ally approved practice, however, is to plow the sod under at the 

 end of the second or third year. The land is usually put in 

 corn after timothy, followed by oats, and then by wheat, which 

 completes the rotation. Barnyard manure, if used, is spread on 

 the sod the spring the sod is broken. 



248. When to harvest timothy. From the earliest times 

 there has been much discussion regarding the best time to cut 

 grass for hay. Experiments have been made to determine 

 when to harvest timothy to obtain the largest amount of hay 

 having the highest feeding value and of the quality that stock 

 relish most. It was found that by harvesting just after the 

 bloom is shed, or about the time the seed is formed, but be- 

 fore the seed reaches the dough state, one secures the largest 

 yield of nutritious hay. It was found that the earlier the cutting 



