TIMOTHY. 53 



into the market under names that would indicate specific 

 varieties. And yet it is claimed by botanists that some 

 of the varieties are so distinct and so specifically su- 

 perior to the variety commonly soAvn as to deserve suffi- 

 cient attention to grow them with a view of placing them 

 on the market on the ground of superior merit. 



Timothy is grown rather for hay than for pasture, 

 and yet in certain areas of the prairie it is much relied 

 upon for pasture at the present time. Close grazing may 

 weaken the plants under certain conditions, but ordina- 

 rily it does not readily succumb because of such treat- 

 ment. Of all the grasses now grown for hay on the 

 ^"orth American continent, timothy is unquestionably 

 the most generally useful and it is by far the most 

 extensive!;' grown. This arises in part from the wide 

 range in its adaptation, but more from its many good 

 qualities. These include the ease with which it may 

 be grown, cured and transported, the high palatability 

 and nutrition which it possesses, and the attractive ap- 

 pearance and readily marketable character of the hay. 

 The hay, though fed to horses, cattle and sheep, has been 

 found specially adapted to the needs of horses, and most 

 of all adapted to the needs of horses when at work. 

 This arises in pare from the suitability of the food con- 

 stituents which it contains, and in part from its meet- 

 ness to the digestion of horses at work. It may be 

 more suitably fed to cattle and sheep when grown along 

 with some variety of clover, since, when thus fed, the 

 fodder is in better balance. When fed to sheep it 

 should be of fine growth and cut early. 



Distribution. As has already been intimated, tim- 



