60 PERMANENT AND TEMPORARY PASTURES. 



Timothy. In rigorous winters, which severely test the endurance 

 of so hardy a plant as Rye Grass, Timothy will pass through the 

 trial uninjured. It produces a heavy hay crop, is exceedingly 

 nutritious when young, and becomes still more so when old and 

 the seed is formed. Of course, if the plant is permitted to mature 

 seed, little or no aftermath is to be expected. All cattle eat it 

 greedily, and horses manifest especial fondness for it. 



Timothy is generally spoken of as a late grass, and correctly 

 so, because it flowers in July. Still the early herbage is good, 

 and sheep may be run over a pasture containing a large pro- 

 j)ortion of it until late in spring without endangering the crop of 

 hay. Indeed, it frequently happens that the herbage must be fed 

 off before being laid in for hay, to prevent the Timothy from 

 being ready before other grasses are lit to cut. Timotliy is really 

 mown to fjreatest advantage before tlie ears are out of their 

 sheaths, having regard to the lineness of the hay and the after- 

 math. It should be clearly understood that I am here alluding 

 to the treatment of a meadow containing an unusual quantity of 

 this grass, from which superior hay is wanted. When grown 

 alone as a fodder plant, Timothy may not only be allowed to 

 remain uncut until in full flower, but even for ten days or a 

 fortnioht later, and all that time the nutritive value will be 

 augmented. Sinclair says that, ' subject to the weather being 

 such as to keep it in growth, every two days' growth after 

 flowering will increase its nutritive value as much as any eight 

 days' growtli before that period.' Still, it must be admitted 

 that these hard wiry stalks, when dried, can scarcely be called 

 hay. If mixed with other grasses in hay, they will reduce its 

 selling value. They may be very nutritious, but they will 

 have to be cut into chaff before beiniz o'iven to cattle. 



Timotliy should form a principal constituent of every per- 

 manent prescription intended for heavy soils, but as there has 

 been a tendency of late years to give undue prominence to this 

 grass, I think it necessary to say tliat mischief may be done by 

 using it in excess. It is de(;idedly inferior to Foxtail. Tlie 



