n6 



PRINCIPLES OF FARM PRACTICE 



Meadow grasses. Grasses are especially valuable for 

 hay, because they dry easily when cut and are therefore 

 easily preserved for stock feed. Although they do not have 

 as great food value as legumes, they are much relished by 

 stock. 



Among the grasses used for hay, timothy has the first 

 place, being adapted to the climatic conditions throughout 



the Northeastern and 

 Rocky Mountain 

 States. In the Cotton 

 Belt and in the Gulf 

 States Johnson grass 

 and Bermuda grass are 

 grown for pasture and 

 sometimes for hay. 

 Native grasses furnish 

 the most important hay 

 crops in the Plains 

 Region. In the states 



Diagram showing the relation of digesti- 

 bility and yield, of timothy hay to time of 

 cutting. 



A. Relative yields of dry matter at dif- 

 ferent stages. 



B. Relative digestibility at different stages. 

 (Missouri Agr. Exp. Station.) 



of the Pacific Coast, 

 grain hay, such as 

 barley, is chiefly used, although orchard grass, timothy, 

 and other grasses are used to some extent. 



The yield of hay from meadows tends to grow less from 

 year to year, unless they are fertilized a somewhat diffi- 

 cult practice seldom followed. On account of decreasing 

 yields from old meadows, it is desirable to keep meadows 

 in a system of rotation, leaving each field in grass only two 

 or three years. For example, it is a good practice to sow a 

 mixture of clover and timothy seed in the field the same 

 year. During the first season clover will predominate, but 

 will be replaced largely by timothy th.e second season, and 



