GRASS AND HAY 187 



depend upon the class of animals for which it is intended. (Ore. 

 B. 91.) 



Throughout the entire timothy region the time and man- 

 ner of cutting have much to do with the vitality of the soil. In all 

 dry situations timothy develops bulbous thickenings of greater or 

 less extent at the bases of the stalks, which become filled with water 

 and enable the plants to survive droughty periods. If the cutting 

 takes place too early in the season, these bulbs do not become suffi- 

 ciently developed and the plants are more easily influenced by the 

 hot, dry weather which often prevails during summer and autumn. 

 Again, the conditions may be such that a late cutting may do 

 serious damage to the sod. If the early part of the season has been 

 dry and rains in July produce a second growth, the farmer usually 

 waits as long as he can before cutting, in order to get as large a 

 yield as possible. It is seldom that much aftermath is developed, 

 on account of the lateness of the second growth, and if the timothy 

 is cut too close to the ground the sod is very likely to suffer badly. 

 Hence, a long stubble should be left. In fact, it is never a good plan 

 to cut closer than 3 or 4 inches. When timothy is sown in the 

 spring, it is usually best to go over the meadow with the mower to 

 keep the weeds down, but not with the intention of cutting a crop 

 of hay. Sometimes a little seed may be obtained the first season, 

 but this is generally needed to fill in thin places in the sod. 



The best hay is obtained by cutting during full bloom or when 

 the blossoms fall. The feeding qualities are best at full bloom, but 

 most farmers prefer to cut a little later, as the pollen makes the hay 

 dusty, which is avoided by waiting. It sometimes happens that, on 

 account of lack of moisture, the first growth is light, and abundant 

 rains in June or July may cause a strong second growth to spring 

 up, which will not be in its prime until the first has reached an ad- 

 vanced stage of development. In such cases it would be more profit- 

 able to cut late, provided the proper precautions are observed as to 

 the condition in which the sod should be left, (U. S. Y. B. 1896.) 



Timothy hay is of little value after the seeds have been re- 

 moved by the present method of harvesting. Recent experiments in 

 Iowa indicate that by making certain modifications in the process 

 of thrashing, timothy seed may be harvested with a stripper, such as 

 is used for June grass, so as to save a good portion of the stalks for 

 hay and secure a good crop of seed at the same time. Timothy seed 

 is grown in nearly all of the Western and Middle States of this 

 country; eastern (Germany and Austria also produce a considerable 

 amount. Austrian timothy seed, however, frequently contains 

 dodder. (Dept. Agr. Y. B. 1898.) 



Good weather is essential for the satisfactory making of any 

 hay, whether it be timothy, millet, clover, alfalfa or any other grass 

 or leguminous crop. The time of day to cut hay differs greatly in 

 different sections of the country. "As early in the morning as pos- 

 sible, in order that drying and curing may be quickly secured," is 

 the advice given by the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station. 

 "The best hour in the day for cutting is late in the afternoon," says 



