312 FORAGE CROPS 



MEADOWS 



The main market hay is timothy, and market 

 quality is reduced in proportion to the quantity of 

 other kinds of grass mixed with it. Other grasses 

 are of value, however, and these will undoubtedly 

 be a feature in the hay markets, and exercise an 

 influence in grading for market, when their value 

 is generally known. From the standpoint of the 

 grower, it is desirable to have more than one 

 variety of grass, as it permits of thicker seeding 

 and larger yield, for, when conditions are unfavor- 

 able for one grass, they may be favorable for 

 another. Besides, the conditions that are unfavor- 

 able for the permanency of one grass may be 

 favorable for the permanency of another, thus 

 lengthening the period during which meadows may 

 be profitably mown. Therefore, mixtures con- 

 taining timothy, blue -grass, red -top, and other 

 grasses of known value, in addition to the ordi- 

 nary mixture of timothy and clover, are to be 

 recommended. It is desirable that the varieties of 

 grasses used in a mixture should mature practi- 

 cally at the same time; otherwise, the mixture 

 would contain over-ripe and under-ripe grasses, 

 which would unfavorably affect the quality of hay. 



To insure permanency of meadows, it is not good 

 practice to pasture them, as the tramping of the 

 animals, especially should the land be wet, will 



