TIMOTHY 



123 



FIG. 10. Timothy. Florets 

 showing the different parts. 



In the Old World 

 timothy is native to most 

 of Europe north to lati- 

 tude 70 degrees, and east- 

 ward through Siberia. 

 It also occurs in the 

 Caucasus region and in 

 Algeria. Through this 

 area occur about 10 dif- 

 ferent botanical varieties, 

 none of which have ever 

 been cultivated. 



106. Agricultural his- 

 tory. -- Timothy was 

 first brought into cultivation in the United States. It 

 was first propagated, according to Jared Eliot, by one 

 Herd, who found the grass growing along the Piscataqua 

 River near Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Eliot in 1747 

 recommends it for Massachusetts under the name Herd- 

 grass. He also cites Ellis to the effect that Herd-grass 

 had even that early been introduced into England- from 

 America. The culture of timothy is thus older than that 

 of any other hay grass excepting perennial rye-grass. A 



FIG. 9. Timothy (Phleum pratense). 

 a, glumes ; b, floret with glumes re- 

 moved. 



