GRASS AND HAY 27 



may a second crop worth harvesting be expected. (Ohio E. S. B. 

 225.) 



The soil where the timothy seed was sown was unfavorable for 

 the growth of grasses. The grass grew well, however, and gave two 

 crops during the season. The heads appeared July 18th and the crop 

 was harvested August 5th. Before the end of September the timothy 

 had again headed out. Because of the poor quality of soil this second 

 crop was not harvested. (U. Mich. Sub-Sta. B. 20.) 



Timothy is rarely successful in any part of the Gulf States. 

 It makes one good cutting in the spring after it is sown, but the long 

 summer weakens the bulb-like roots so that but few plants survive 

 until the next year. (Dept. Agr. Div. Agros. B. 15.) 



In conclusion it may be said concerning timothy that no other 

 grass stands in such high favor as does this. It is highly productive, 

 stands drouth well, and is not subject to winter-killing. There is a 

 decreased yield from year to year, and it is found advisable to turn 

 old fields under. Unless it is mixed with other grasses it is usually 

 best not to keep a timothy meadow longer than three years. It has 

 been stated however that there are upland meadows in Nebraska, for 

 instance, which have been in constant use for fifteen years or more, 

 and in that time have not failed to yield paying crops. In most re- 

 gions of the United States and Canada, however, the timothy meadow 

 "runs out" and is replaced by bluegrass. Pastures and meadows have 

 been seen in Wisconsin that have been in constant use for fifteen 

 years where considerable timothy could be found. With the 

 timothy however, there was much bluegrass and clover. Timothy 

 is often used in reclaiming worn-out native meadows and pastures, 

 and with proper treatment very good results are obtained. It sel- 

 dom yields well in pastures, however, for more than two or three 

 years in succession unless the land is very rich and moist. It is^ 

 therefore, considered the best plan to sow the bluegrass with the 

 timothy, and by the time the latter is pastured out the former will 

 have occupied the land. Sowing on native turf is usually done in 

 early spring. The seed is sown broadcast, and then the ground is 

 gone over thoroughly with a heavy harrow. Native meadows on 

 low, rich soil, that have become thin from continuous close cutting, 

 may be very materially strengthened by the addition of a little 

 timothy in this manner, as is known from experience in mid-western 

 States generally. 



In spite of the early failures, timothy is today one of the most 

 valuable of all the meadow grasses grown in the northern Mississippi 

 and Missouri valleys. As stated elsewhere, opinions differ as to when 

 timothy should be cut. Many farmers wait until the seeds are in 

 the "dough" stage; some even wait longer. The farmer who waits 

 until the seed is ripening lacks thrift. It is far better to cut just 

 before the timothy is in bloom or during full bloom. If cut before 

 it blooms it is much more difficult to cure. It cures better if cut 

 just after the blossoms fall. The best hay is obtained by cutting 

 during full bloom, or when the blossoms fall. The feeding quali- 

 ties are best at full bloom, but most farmers prefer to cut a little 



