6 



N. H. AGR. EXPERIMENT STATION. [Bulletin 152 



Lot I. Fed Clover Hay 



COMPOSITION OF NATIVE HAY. 



The name, native hay, is somewhat misleading. It was used 

 for lack of a better title to distinguish it readily from the clover 

 hay. The native hay of New Hampshire is usually nothing 

 more nor less than wornout timothy hay or pasture, where the 

 natural grasses have taken almost entire possession of the land. 

 It may, however, also constitute hay harvested from meadows 

 where cultivated grasses have never been sown. The physical 

 composition is by no means uniform. It varies considerably 

 according to its timothy content or the length of time that has 

 elapsed since it was first seeded. 



Timothy in itself is not suitable as a feed for sheep, and often- 

 times in native hay the presence of large quantities of timothy 

 gives to it its low feeding value. One of the main objections 

 to timothy for sheep is its lack of palatability. Sheep do not 

 care for it and, if placed upon a large timothy ration, will not 

 eat sufficiently of it to make substantial gains. In fact, fre- 

 quently under such conditions, the gains are negative. 



The sample of native hay obtained for the feeding test was 

 fairly typical of what prevails throughout the state. A physical 

 analysis was made, and the following grasses distinguished: 



