VI 
TIMOTHY (Pileum pratense) 
ImMoTHY (Fig. 16) is frequently known as herd’s 
grass in New England, though elsewhere, 
especially in the Middle and South Atlantic 
States, this latter name is applied to redtop. 
Timothy is by far the most important hay grass in 
America. In spite of the fact that chemists tell 
us it is one of the least nutritious of the grasses, 
timothy, or mixtures in which it is the leading con- 
stituent, constitutes nearly three-fourths of the total 
area of tame hay and a much larger proportion of the 
market hay of the country. Even in the South, where 
it is not grown to any considerable extent, it is the 
principal hay on the markets of all the larger cities; 
in fact, no other true grass is recognized as a standard 
hay, except in restricted localities. There must be 
some reason for this apparent discrepancy between the 
chemical composition of timothy hay and its standing 
on the markets. 
In the first place, this grass has the best seed habits 
of any hay or pasture plant known. The seed from 
an acre of it will sow a larger area than almost any 
other grass. The seed is easily harvested and retains 
its vitality remarkably well. Being entirely unlike 
any other common seed, both in size and appear- 
ance, its purity can readily be judged by the farmer. 
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