408 AMERICAN FARMER'S HORSE BOOK. 



The herdls-grass and the timothy are next in the list 

 Neither of them are of much value for grazing purposes. 

 The herd's-grass is the preferable of the two, from its more 

 abundant yield, yet the other is the most nutritious. Either 

 makes a very indifferent pasture, and one that does not last 

 well through the season. One acre of well-set blue-grass- is 

 worth three times as much as either of them, if their quali- 

 ties as pasture grasses are alone taken into consideration. 



These are all the grasses that possess much merit for graz- 

 ing purposes. The clovers grow in all latitudes north of 

 thirty -five degrees, flourishing best on rich, dry uplands,' and 

 upon all soils about equally, excepting the sandy. This is 

 also the case with the timothy, but the herd's-grass is par- 

 ticularly partial to low and moist situations. 



HAY AND FODDER. 



The grasses which are best for pasture are not so for hay. 

 While the blue-grass stands at the head of the list, for the 

 former purpose, timothy ranks first in respect to the other. 

 It possesses more nutrition, and retains it better, when 

 properly harvested, than any other grass. The herd's-grass 

 comes next, but this has more juicy matter in its stalk, and 

 of this much evaporates, of course, in drying. The white 

 clover loses still more from this cause, and the red clover 

 most of all. Good, ripe timothy loses only about one-fifth 

 its weight in curing ; herd's-grass, two-fifths ; w^hite clover, 

 one-half, ■ and red clover about three-fifths. In substance, 

 they vary about the same, or in the proportions of from one 

 to three; and as to healthfulness, although their relative 

 values can not be determined with the same precision, they 

 are to be esteemed in the same order, the timothy being 

 much the best. 



Many of the annuals make tolerable feed when well saved, 

 but are not near so valuable as the grasses. They are often 

 termed grasses in their green state, and when cured, hay ; 

 but we prefer to class them all as fodder. The rescue-grass 

 is the best, being fully equal, if not superior, to the red clover 



