NORTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 149 



cultivate in all that part of the Southern States which is 

 known as the low country, or the whole of the Atlantic slope. 

 The difficulty in its cultivation arises from the dry summers. 

 In the months of August and September it dwindles away 

 and finally dies out, even when protected by many large 

 shading trees and grown upon new bottoms. 



In mountainous ranges, however, it may be cultivated suc- 

 cessfully, and as it is one of the best of grasses, it is worthy of 

 the attention of farmers. It should also succeed in the higher 

 grounds of the middle region. 



The soil required for timothy, is one which is cool and moist, 

 and composed of a vegetable mould, and a stiffish base of clay. 

 On dry upland it flourishes well. On such situations it often 

 yields two tons to the acre. It is not at all adapted to the 

 sandy soil of the Atlantic border. The seed may be sown at 

 two seasons: in the fall, immediately after the sowing of 

 wheat, or in March when the ground is in an open porous 

 state from the effects of a frost. 



The quantity of seed required for an acre, is from a peck- 

 to twelve quarts. Some farmers sow only from four to six 

 quarts. It yields in good seasons, from ten to fifteen bushels 

 of seed to the acre, and has produced thirty, weighing 46 Ibs. 

 to the bushel, and it is worth one dollar and fifty cents per 

 bushel. Timothy hay is preferred oveif all others, for horses ; 

 it is also a superior hay for working cattle in the spring. 



As this species of grass gives a large product, it will be in- 

 ferred at once that it exhausts the soil especially where it is 

 allowed to stand and ripen its seed. 



The time for cutting timothy is when it has fully blossom- 

 ed. At this period it possesses a larger percentage of nutri- 

 ment than when its seeds are ripening. When it has stood 

 until the seeds are ripe, the stem is hard and coarse, and is 

 not relished so well for horses ; besides, it is less nutritive, 

 though many farmers affirm that it spends better and goes 

 farther. Much seed may be saved from this hay, even if cut. 

 early, as all the seed does not ripen at the same time. 



The old practice in the New-England States, and which is 



