126 FOEAGE PLANTS AND THEIR CULTURE 



can be obtained in the Gulf States only in the richest lands 

 Tracy suggests that the growth stimulated by warm 

 winter weather weakens the bulbs so that the plants are 

 less able to withstand summer heat and drought. 



109. Soil adaptation. Timothy is best adapted to 

 clay or loam soils. It does not possess much drought 

 resistance, but on the other hand thrives best where 

 moisture is abundant. In moist meadows it is sometimes 

 the practice to sow timothy seed directly without any 

 preparation of the soil, and timothy often makes a splendid 

 stand, largely replacing the native plants. While timothy 

 is mainly grown in humid regions, it is being more and 

 more grown in irrigated regions, as large yields of readily 

 marketable hay can be obtained, particularly in valleys 

 too cool for the most successful growing of alfalfa. 



110. Advantages of timothy. The importance of 

 timothy in America is due to its rather remarkable com- 

 bination of qualities, as well as to its splendid adaptation 

 to the same area as red clover. Its advantages may thus 

 be summarized : 



1. It produces good yields. 



2. A stand is usually secured easily. 



3. The seed is usually high in purity, germinates well 

 and the cost per acre is less than that of any other grass. 



4. It seldom lodges. 



5. It is easily cut and cured. 



6. The period during which it may be harvested is 

 longer than that of most grasses. 



7. It is the favorite hay for city horses, and the demand 

 and price is therefore greater than that of other hays. 



Among the objections that have been urged against 

 timothy are : first, its lateness ; second, the fact that it 

 becomes somewhat woody ; third, its comparatively low 



