154 



FORAGE CROPS GRASSES 



well in the cool, humid regions of the northeastern quarter of the 

 United States. The seed is abundant and cheap. The plants are 

 usually completely killed by plowing, and do not persist as weeds 

 in cultivated fields. In most soils timothy does not live many 

 years. When used in pasture mixtures it produces a good sod the 

 first year or two, but is soon run out by other grasses. In hay 

 fields it. is better the first year or two than afterward. It is, there- 

 fore, well suited to a short rotation of crops. 



There are several plans for 

 seeding timothy: (1) The most 

 common plan is to sow about 

 ten or twelve pounds of seed 

 per acre at the time small grain 

 is sown. (2) A newer plan and 

 perhaps better in regions where 

 weeds are very troublesome, is 

 to plow the grain stubble in and 

 thoroughly prepare the seed bed 

 to be sowed with fifteen to 

 twenty pounds of timothy seed 

 in August, or as soon thereafter 

 as the ground is moist enough 

 to start the seed. (3) In sev- 

 eral New England states, and 

 less commonly elsewhere, timo- 

 thy seed is sowed in corn fields 

 after the last cultivation in July 

 or August. The last cultivation 

 is such as to make the surface 

 very level. Corn is cut very low, 

 or the stubble may be recut to 



FIG. 100.- Kafir corn, a non-saccharine avoid difficulty in the mowing 

 sorghum, well suited to dry seasons. The ~f U Q , r fU~ n^-sH- c^acrm 

 tonnage of fodder and seed compares well Ol na y tne next Season. 



Timothy usually produces a 



good aftermath, or second growth, after the first cutting if the 

 moisture conditions are favorable. In dry sections, however, there 

 is but one cutting and very little aftermath to be used for pasture. 

 The best timothy hay should be cut as soon as the seed is well 

 formed and before the crop is entirely mature. In this condition 

 it is not quite so easy to cure as when it is more mature. It is 

 more relished by stock and there is less waste in the manger. 



