88 FARM GRASSES OF THE UNITED STATES 



when cut at this late stage, an advantage for horses, 

 but a disadvantage for cattle. The hay is richer when 

 mixed with clover, but unless the clover is bright and 

 green horsemen objedl to feeding it. Unfortunately, 

 clover (the common red clover) ripens a week or more 

 ahead of timothy, and is, therefore, liable to be more 

 or less over-mature when the hay is cut. 



In general timothy hay is better for horses than it 

 is for cattle, though when cut early, and especially 

 when mixed with clover, it is excellent feed for cattle 

 that are supplied with plenty of protein in their grain 

 feed. As already stated, it is the demand for horse 

 feed in the cities that fixes the price of hay in this 

 country. Hence timothy is the standard, and fre- 

 quently almost the only hay on our markets. In only 

 two cases known to the author does any other hay lead 

 timothy in favor with the horsemen. These are the 

 bluestem {Agropyron oaidentale) of Montana and 

 southeastern Colorado, and South Park hay {/uncus 

 halticus) in Denver, Colorado. Brome-grass hay is 

 perhaps the equal of timothy hay for horses, but it is 

 as yet hardly known on the markets. 



AS A PASTURE GRASS 



As previously stated, timothy meadows are fre- 

 quently converted into pastures at the end of the second 

 year, and frequently also the slight aftermath is pas- 

 tured where hay is cut. It does not stand grazing as 

 well as many other grasses. Outside of the limits of 

 the timothy region proper, as in the Dakotas, in Ten- 

 nessee, etc. , the best authorities advise against pastur- 

 ing it at all. 



