100 DESCRIPTION OF FEEDING STUFFS 
Timothy (Phleum pratense) is the common hay crop of north- 
eastern United States, being grown either mixed with red clover or 
in pure seeding. The mixed timothy and clover makes the more 
valuable hay of the two, because of the larger protein content and 
the lower fiber content of this hay. Timothy is a favorite hay 
with farmers and, especially, horse owners; the main reasons for 
this preference are: Clean, good timothy seed is generally available 
at a low price; timothy is quickly established, and usually holds 
well; it may be readily cured into clean, bright hay, which is rather 
free from dust and may be handled without much waste. 
Timothy is especially adapted for feeding horses, while it has 
a relatively low value for growing animals or dairy cattle. For 
these animals it is greatly improved by a liberal admixture of clover. 
The yields of timothy hay obtained depend on the character of the 
soil, the climatic conditions, thickness of planting, and also, to a 
large extent, on the time of cutting. The following table prepared 
by Hunt® shows the yield per acre of the dry matter of timothy 
cut at different stages as indicated, according to trials at three 
experiment stations: 
Influence of Maturity of Timothy on Yield of Dry Matter, Pounds per Acre 
Stage of maturity Connecticut Tilinois Fenny * Average 
Well headed out............ 2750 nied ives aie 
Full bloom................ 3300 3285 2585 3057 
Out of bloom............... 3115 3425 wide (3270) 
Seed in dough.............. ee 4010 Rudes aree 
Seed nearly ripe............. 3615 4065 3065 3582 
The largest yield of dry matter was obtained in all three cases 
when the timothy was cut at a late period of growth, when the seed 
was nearly ripe. The quality of the late-cut hay is poorer than that 
cut earlier, as we have seen, both as regards chemical composition 
and digestibility. Hence it is generally recommended to cut timothy 
when in full bloom or just out of bloom. Late cutting does not’ 
greatly decrease the palatability of the hay to horses, but renders 
it practically worthless when used as sole roughage for young stock, 
dairy cows, and sheep. 
Red or alsike clover, according to Henry, should always be sown 
with timothy, for the combination furnishes more and a superior 
quality of hay than timothy alone, even for horses. “Grown to- 
gether, the hay of the first season will consist largely of clover. 
8“ Forage and Fiber Crops of America,” p. 59. 
