TIMOTHY 239 



running several tons of dry matter to the acre. For 

 a forage and soiling crop there is no reason why 

 teosinte should not be more generally grown than 

 it is. Stock relish it, and its food value is high. 

 There is very little of it wasted when fed. It is a 

 crop that should be well tried out by dairymen. 



TIMOTHY.— Clean timothy hay is the standard 

 of commerce in this country. -By it all other hays 

 are compared. It is the most expensive hay either 

 when fed or purchased. It is expensive when pur- 

 chased, because it is the highest-priced hay and 

 when fed because its feeding value is not com- 

 mensurate with the price. As a feed it is low in 

 protein; much lower than any of the legume hays. 

 Its great popularity is due, perhaps, more largely 

 to the fact that it is usually free from dust. It is 

 commonly fed to work horses throughout the land, 

 often being sent long distances to regions where it 

 does not readily grow. But the native grasses or 

 legume hays, if properly cured, would make as 

 clean feed and more satisfactory feed for farm 

 horses, because the nutrients contained are in all 

 cases better balanced. 



The popularity of timothy hay makes its grow- 

 ing remunerative to the farmer. It is to his advan- 

 tage to dispose of timothy at high prices and to 

 purchase other hays and grains with the money 

 received. He will not only get a better feed 

 through the exchange, but something to boot at 

 the same time. This grass likes a moist soil and 

 does its best on rich lands. It is a perennial and 

 grows from 2 to 5 feet high. It abhors sandy soils 

 and shows it by a scanty growth. The clay loams 

 attract it and on these or moist lowlands the best 

 returns are secured. 



