CHAPTER VI 



THE THREE LEADING FORAGE GRASSES 



AMONG all the grasses that are cultivated in the 

 United States for forage, three stand out preeminently. 

 These are timothy, bluegrass, and Bermuda grass. 



TIMOTHY 



Timothy is the most important meadow grass in 

 America and timothy hay is the standard hay upon the 

 market, the criterion by which all other hay is measured. 

 It was one of the earliest grasses to be cultivated in this 

 country for hay and at once became dominant. While 

 timothy is no more nutritious than many other grasses 

 it has other qualities that cause it to be favored above all 

 other meadow grasses in the regions where it thrives. 

 The seed is cheap and reliable, and of a nature that 

 renders it easy to handle and to sow. It is borne in a 

 compact head ; the heads are formed at a fairly uniform 

 height from the ground; the seed ripens approximately 

 at the same time, does not shatter much, and is produced 

 in abundance. All these qualities tend to keep the price 

 of the seed low. Good seed at low price would in itself 

 place any grass in a favorable position in the estimation 

 of growers. To these advantages should be added those 

 of being palatable, nutritious, easily grown and harvested 

 and of covering the ground evenly rather than in tussocks 



53 



