312 FORAGE CROPS 
MEADOWS 
The main market hay is timothy, and market 
quality is reduced in proportion to the quantity of 
other kinds of grass mixed with it. Other grasses 
are of value, however, and these will undoubtedly 
be a feature in the hay markets, and exercise an 
influence in grading for market, when their value 
is generally known. From the standpoint of the 
grower, it is desirable to have more than one 
variety of grass, as it permits of thicker seeding 
and larger yield, for, when conditions are unfavor- 
able for one grass, they may be favorable for 
another. Besides, the conditions that are unfavor- 
able for the permanency of one grass may be 
favorable for the permanency of another, thus 
lengthening the period during which meadows may 
be profitably mown. Therefore, mixtures con- 
taining timothy, blue-grass, red-top, and other 
grasses of known value, in addition to the ordi- 
nary mixture of timothy and clover, are to be 
recommended. It is desirable that the varieties of 
grasses used in a mixture should mature practi- 
cally at the same time; otherwise, the mixture 
would contain over-ripe and under-ripe grasses, 
which would unfavorably affect the quality of hay. 
To insure permanency of meadows, it is not good 
practice to pasture them, as the tramping of the 
animals, especially should the land be wet, will 
