TIMOTHY 87 
be sown in either fall or spring, but on clay land itis 
always sown in spring. 
Timothy sown alone or with mammoth clover 
yields only one cutting a season. When mixed with 
common red clover two crops a year are cut, the first 
consisting of both clover and timothy, the second of 
nearly pure clover. 
In many localities, particularly where timothy hay 
is grown for market, it is customary to leave a meadow 
down for many years. In such cases the yield seldom 
exceeds a ton and a quarter a year after the first crop. 
This practice is hard on the soil, and cannot be con- 
sidered high-class farming. Yet, if kept free from 
weeds, pastured very lightly, and frequently top- 
dressed with good manure or with a complete fertil- 
izer, fairly good yields may be mantained for many 
years. 
FEED VALUE OF TIMOTHY 
The value of timothy hay for different kinds of 
stock depends on the stage at which it is cut. For 
cattle it should be cut just after it is through bloom- 
ing. When the stamens of the timothy flower have 
just protruded from the glumes, it is popularly said to 
be in the first bloom. When the stamens have burst 
and shed their pollen, and hang limp and empty on 
their slender stalks, it is said to be in second bloom. 
This, or a day or two later, is the stage to cut it for 
cattle. During the next week or ten days, after reach- 
ing the second bloom, timothy rapidly changes in 
character and flavor. Horses eat it more readily if cut 
when the seed is about grown. It is also less washy 
