140 FORAGE PLANTS AND THEIR CULTURE 



November 8-22, 1892. The 1893 yields to the acre were 

 respectively 2933, 5107 and 4800 pounds. Spring grazing 

 thus proved markedly injurious, while light fall grazing 

 was much less so. 



125. Pollination. The pollen of timothy is very light, 

 and with a scarcely perceptible air movement will float 

 12 feet or more. The grass is normally anemophilous 

 that is, pollinated by wind as indicated by the large 

 feathery stigmas and light pollen. 



According to Hopkins's observations in West Virginia, 

 timothy flowers begin to bloom 10 to 15 days after the 

 tip of the spike is visible. On each spike the blooming 

 period extends from 7 to 12 days. The flowers open as 

 a rule early in the morning and the stigma is exserted at 

 the time the anthers open, so that self-pollination may 

 easily occur. 



No observations are recorded as to whether an in- 

 dividual flower is self -fertile or not. Some seed may be 

 produced, however, by bagging a single head or all the 

 heads of a single plant. 



126. Seed-production. Timothy is one of the most 

 reliable grasses for seed-production. The grass is usually 

 cut with a grain binder and the bundles put in small 

 shocks and allowed to cure for a week or more. Thrash- 

 ing is done by a grain separator, but special sieves are 

 necessary. The average yield of seed is stated to be 

 about 7 bushels an acre and the maximum 12 bushels. 



Some loss from shattering will occur if the seed be 

 allowed to become overripe. Showery weather causes 

 the glumes, by opening and closing, to become looser, so 

 that in thrashing a considerable proportion of the seed 

 becomes freed from the glumes. 



The principal seed-producing states in the order of total 



