CHAPTER X 



THE PERENNIAL GRASSES. — TIMOTHY, BLUE- 

 GRASS, REDTOP 



TIMOTHY 



The grass timothy derives its most common name from 

 Timothy Hanson of Maryland, who is said to have intro- 

 duced it from England in 1720. It is also known in some 

 parts of the coimtry, particularly in New England, as 

 Herd's grass. This name comes from John Herd, who, 

 it is said, found it growing wild in the swamps of New 

 Hampshire earlj' in the eighteenth century. Because of 

 the appearance of the head, the grass is sometimes called 

 meadow cat's tail. Whether Herd or Hanson should 

 have the credit for discovering the adaptability of this 

 grass to American agriculture cannot be determined. Both 

 of them perhaps deserve particular credit for calling atten- 

 tion to its value and assisting in its distribution. Timothy 

 has been cultivated in this country for two centuries and 

 is by far the most important hay grass, furnishing almost 

 all of the hay found on the eastern markets. It is also 

 of considerable importance in Europe, but it does not 

 attain there the importance that it does in this country. 



183. Description. — Timothy, Phleum pratense, is a 

 perennial and has the characteristic fibrous root system 

 of the members of the grass family. Compared with 

 other forage grasses, it may be said to be deep rooted. 



194 



