16 FORAGE CHOPS 



bleness, as the various grades fixed by hay associ- 

 ations are based on this variety as a standard. 

 Any admixtures of other grasses or clovers reduce 

 the value in proportion to the quantity of timothy 

 present. It is probable that for a long time to 

 come timothy hay will remain the standard for 

 market grades. Notwithstanding these facts, there 

 are a number of other plants which, because of 

 their adaptability to peculiar conditions, their 

 larger yields, and their excellent quality for feeding, 

 must sooner or later be recognized. Among these 

 are orchard -grass, red -top, Kentucky blue -grass, 

 Italian rye -grass, and others, some of which are 

 discussed in some detail in other parts of this 

 volume. The common recognition of the value 

 of mixtures would result, in many instances, in 

 largely increasing the possible yield from a defi- 

 nite area, because mixtures of grasses that have 

 different characteristics meet and average up the 

 inequalities in seasons, soils and other conditions. 

 The same is true of the legumes: many are suit- 

 able for mixtures, and they improve the feeding 

 value of the hay at the same time. 



Until recently, red clover has been the only 

 member of the legume family extensively used for 

 forage. It is well adapted to rotation- cropping, 

 can be grown on most soils, and is a most excel- 

 lent forage for all kinds of farm stock, but it can- 

 not fulfil all requirements. Alsike clover, mam- 



