228 



SOILS AND PLANT LIFE 



The seed is often mixed -nith a spring or fall small grain 

 crop, called a nurse crop, from ten to twelve pounds being 

 so^Mi as a rule to the acre. The fall seeding is usuall}' 

 preferred. The crop takes possession of the ground after 

 the small grain is harvested and is allowed to remain for 

 two or more seasons. If clover is sown 

 with the timothy, as is usually the case, 

 the clover forms seed and disappears 

 in the fall of the second year. After 

 this the field is usually put into some 

 other crop, though if this is not done, 

 the growth the third year is nearly pure 

 timothv as a rule. 



167. Advantages and Disadvantages 

 of Timothy. — Since timothy is the lead- 

 ing hay crop of America, we may look 

 for it to possess a number of advantages 

 over other similar crops. Among these 

 are : 



(a) It becomes established more read- 

 ily than other cultivated grasses. 



(b) It is easily harvested and quickly 

 cured, thus escaping injury from rains. 



(c) The seed is cheap and easily 

 procured. 



fed -n-ithout fear of injurious results, 



Fig. 97. — Timothy 

 in flower. 



(d) It may be 

 making a palatable hay for horses, especially if cut at the 

 proper time and carefully cured. 



[e) It is adapted to a vride range of soils and climates. 

 (/) There is always a market demand for the hay. 



On the other hand, we often hear farmers offering the 

 folloTsing objections to timothy : 

 (a) It fields but one crop a year. 



