96 Food foi; Plants. 



Second, there are usually several fields ou nearly every 

 farm in most sections, which, owing- to the heavy char- 

 acter of the soil, or for various other reasons, are more 

 suitable for gro\vin,s>- hay than for growing the several 

 crops usually gro^\ll in a reguhir rotation; 



Third, where the method of seeding down a portion 

 of a large farm to liay has been practiced it has fre- 

 quently proven that the net profit per year from the 

 smaller acreage devoted to grain and hoed crops, because 

 of the more liberal fertilizing and better cultivation given 

 them, w^as as great as was formerly obtained from the 

 entire farm, leaving the value of the hay as clear gain 

 over the old method. 



The selling price per ton of good No. 1 timothy hay in 

 the markets of America usually ranges between 10 and 

 20 per cent, higher than that of clover hay, the difference 

 frequently being nearly enough to cover the cost of har- 

 vesting aiid marketing the crop. This, coupled with the 

 fact that the yield per acre of timothy is about equal to 

 that of clover, and it is much easier to cure into good 

 marketable condition, makes it evident that timothy is 

 the more profitable to raise for market in those States 

 where the soil and climatic conditions are favorable. 



We have been trying too often to grow timothy by 

 seeding it with wheat or rye, and smothering it out with 

 the grain crop the first year, and again with clover the 

 second year, until the remaining timothy plants have 

 become so weakened because of these unfavorable condi- 

 tions and the lack of necessary plant food that they can 

 only make a stunted growth. The result of this general 

 method of growing hay has heen an average yield for the 

 whole country of one and one-quarter tons per acre, 

 while, by adopting better methods, it is possible to grow 

 three or four tons per acre and, where conditions are 

 extremely favorable, as much as six tons of timothy per 

 acre can often be grown in one season. 



In view of the conditions here pointed out, an experi- 

 ment ^vas planned in order to determine whether on soils 

 naturallv well adapted for hay growing, but out of con- 



