CHAPTER X 
HAY AND PASTURE PLANTS 
More land in the United States is devoted to hay and 
pasture than to any other crop. Most of the plants used for 
this purpose belong to the grass family, but the legumes also 
furnish some species of very great value. 
The particular kinds to be preferred 
4| depend upon the special use in view, — 
whether for pasture or hay, and whether 
for horses, cattle, or sheep, — and also 
upon the climate and soil. 
Nearly all these plants are perennial, 
the chief exceptions being millet, which 
is an annual, and sweet clover, a biennial. 
The description of the grass family and 
of the legumes forms a helpful intro- 
duction to this chapter and should be 
reviewed at this point. (See page 72.) 
CULTIVATED GRASSES 
Timothy. — This is the most impor- 
tant hay plant in America. It makes 
hay of excellent quality, and when the 
soil is good and the rain ample, the crop 
is quite large. After the first two years, however, the yield 
diminishes, and when used in permanent pastures it is gener- 
ally displaced in a few years by other grasses. It is not 
128 
Timotuy (right), JUNE 
Grass (left) 
