272 MANAGEMENT OF MEADOWS. 



worthless ; because the woody fibre is insoluble in the stom- 

 ach. By reference to the table given at the close of this 

 chapter of experiments on different grasses, it will be seen 

 there are exceptions to this principle some grasses giving 

 more nutritive principles at seeding time, than others, while 

 in blossom; but still, with this fact in view, if the grasses 

 are allowed to go to seed, they impoverish the soil, lessen 

 the age of the meadow, and utterly destroy the chance for 

 a second crop and the quantity of hay saved is almost al- 

 ways greater at any time before seeding than afterwards. 



Prof. Kirtland draws the following conclusions from 

 many careful observations as regards timothy : 



1. "That timothy is a perennial plant, which renews it- 

 self by an annual formation of bulbs," or perhaps, more 

 correctly speaking, tubers, in which the vitality of the 

 plant is concentrated during the winter. These form in 

 whatever locality the plant is selected without reference to 

 dryness, or moisture. From these proceed the stalks that 

 support the heads and leaves, and from the same source 

 spread out the numerous fibres forming the true roots. 



2. To insure a perfect development of tubers a certain 

 amount of nutrition must be assimilated in the leaves and 

 returned to the base of the plant, through the stalk. 



3. As soon as the process of nutrition is completed, it 

 becomes manifest by a state of desiccation or dryness, al- 

 ways commencing at a point directly above either the first 

 or second joint of the stem near the crown of the tubers. 

 From this point the desiccation gradually progresses up- 

 ward, and the last portion of the stalk yielding its fresh- 

 ness is that adjoining the head. Coincident with the be- 

 ginning of this process, is the full development of the seeds, 

 and with its progress they mature. Its earliest appearance 

 is evidence that both the tubers and seeds have received 

 their requisite supplies of nutrition, and that neither the 

 stalk nor the leaves are longer necessary to aid them in 

 completing their maturity. A similar process occurs in th 



