ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN S ASSOCIATION, 1 9 



vated?" also, "What will be the condition of the grass a few years 

 hence ? " I will answer the first question by saying that will depend 

 upon the way in which they are used. If the stock is allowed to run 

 over the pasture lots when the soil is quite wet it may produce rough- 

 ness on the surface, but generally they will remain smooth. In rela- 

 tion to the last question, that will also depend upon how they are 

 cared for. Over-feeding on grass land is very injurious to the long- 

 evity of grass, especially on meadow lands. I believe if the farmer 

 would not allow stock to feed from his meadow land on any condi' 

 tion whatever that it would increase the yield of grass 25 per cent. 

 When the first blades form in the early part of spring they are very 

 essential in promoting the growth of the later-growing blades, and 

 when they are cropped by the feeding of stock, the effect is as injuri- 

 ous in retarding the growth of the plant as though it had been 

 severely frozen, which will cause a light yield of grass. 



Again, I would recommend early cutting of grass, to maintain a 

 vigorous growth, as in that condition the plant has stronger vitality 

 to nourish the forthcoming blades. This position is demonstrated in 

 all of the early-mown meadows, compared to those cut later in the 

 season. Look at the beautiful rich dark green color of the early- 

 mown blades ; what a giant-like appearance by the side of the poor, 

 pale, feeble look of those later cut. The timothy plant is very pecu- 

 liar in its growth, and being a bulb plant, it is naturally adapted to a 

 dry soil, which can be seen by the various specimens of the plant in 

 our collection of grasses. The bulb is nature's store-house of moisture 

 from which the column draws a supply, increasing its demands until 

 it is fully matured, leaving the roots of the plant very weak in their 

 vitality, which will cause a premature decay. Hence the timothy 

 plant was designed by nature for dry soils and early clipping to secure 

 a strong and vigorous grov/th, I would not recommend the sowing 

 of timothy on low, moist land, as this retains, a greater degree of 

 moisture through the hours of night, and when the scorching rays of 

 the sun come in contact with excessive moisture on column it will 

 cause the fungus on roots, which greatly decreases its nutritious value 

 for winter feed. Hence here is a serious mistake with many in 

 sowing timothy on lowland meadow as the base of their seeding, for 

 there are other varieties of grasses that will grow most luxuriantly in 

 that class of soil and withstand the attack of the fungus. Among 

 those varieties foul meadow is the most prominent in maintaining its 

 deep green color through the entire season of its growth. Also 

 meadow fescue and orchard grasses are not easily affected by exces- 



