TIMOTHY. 77 



roots are easily destroyed if the stems are taken off be- 

 low the first joint, this much being required for their vital- 

 ity. For this reason, also it is necessary to be careful to 

 set the blade of the mower sufficiently high to leave the first 

 joint intact. As has been stated, the roots are both fibrous 

 and bulbous. These bulbs have but few rootlets starting 

 out from them, the plant depending for its support princi- 

 pally on the store of nourishment laid up within the bulbs. 

 If, therefore, the stem is shaved off entirely, the bulbs ? 

 being deprived of all nourishment, throw out tubers all 

 around, and these send up shoots, seeking food in the air, 

 but they are feeble, and if spared by the frosts of win- 

 ter are so crippled they fall an easy prey to the scorch- 

 ing suns of summer. For the same reason pasturing 

 will effectually destroy a timothy meadow if persisted 

 in. The stock will bite off all vegetation, leaving the 

 roots to perish, or if hogs are allowed to rim on it they 

 quickly discover and destroy the succulent bulbs. When 

 about half the blossoms turn brown, and at least the upper 

 part of the spike or head is still purple, a yellowish spot 

 will make its appearance at or near the first joint, and 

 this is the true indication for the harvest to begin, for this 

 spot will soon extend if allowed to remain, to the spike, and 

 the whole plant will be a stem of wood. The appearance 

 of this spot also tells of the maturity of the bulbs, and they 

 are not so liable to injury from cutting as before. If this 

 joint is left, the tubers will remain green and fresh during 

 the entire winter ; but their destruction is inevitable if it 

 is taken away at any time during the year. These remarks 

 do not apply with equal force to timothy when it has a fi- 

 brous root, but the two kinds are so intimately mingled 

 there is no practical difference. 



Timothy stands at the head of all grasses in its nutritive 

 qualities. A specimen taken from the field according to 

 the above directions, yielded on analysis, water 57.21, flesh- 

 forming principle 4.86, fat- forming principles 1.50, heat- 



