6 LEAFLET 115, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



In certain parts of the timothy-seed producing area, redtop grows 

 in many of the meadows. Where large quantities of timothy with a 

 mixture of redtop, even in small proportions, are harvested, the aggre- 

 gate amount of redtop seed recleaned from it may be quite large. 

 When timothy contains a considerable proportion of redtop. which 

 usually commands a higher price than timothy, a premium over the 

 price of ordinary timothy is often paid for the seed. 



It is difficult completely to remove the seed of alsike clover from 

 timothy seed. Mixing alsike with timothy, however, usually is not 

 objectionable and may even add to the value of the seed. 



Yields 



The average annual yield of timothy seed in the United States, 

 from 1925 to 1930, was 3.8 bushels per acre. Yields as high as 

 10 bushels per acre or more are said to have been obtained, but 

 no accurate records of the sizes of the fields and of the yields ob- 

 tained in them are available to support these statements. The 

 more usual yield of timothy seed reported by growers varies from 

 less than 3 bushels to 6 or 7 bushels per acre. Yields of seed, like 

 those of hay, are usually higher when the rainfall during the spring 

 months is normal or somewhat above normal. 



Marketing 



Timothy seed produced for market is usually sold within a few 

 weeks or months, or at least within a year, after threshing. Local 

 buyers commonly buy the seed from the farmers and resell it to 

 wholesale dealers, or act as agents for large seed firms. Timothy 

 seed is commonly purchased from the growers in the condition- in 

 which it comes from the threshing machine, and is known as 

 " country run " seed. The price paid is based on the estimated 

 or calculated percentage of clean timothy seed which it contains. 



The Federal Seed Act prohibiting the movement in interstate 

 commerce of misbranded seed applies to timothy. Most States have 

 laws covering the purity, weed content, and germination of seed. 

 Information as to such requirements can be had from the State de- 

 partments of agriculture. 



In the United States, neither Federal nor State governments have 

 established grades of timothy seed. Some of the wholesale dealers 

 who handle timothy have several trade brands, representing seed 

 of different qualities: these brands, therefore, correspond in a gen- 

 eral way with different grades of seed. 



Timothy seed appears in trade either with or without hulls (figs. 

 2 and 3)." The legal weight in nearly all States is -15 pounds per 

 bushel. There are about 1.100.000 to" 1,300.000 seeds per pomid. 



Germination 



After timothy seed has become mature and been harvested, some 

 time may elapse before a satisfactory percentage of it will grow. 

 During this interval, what is known as the after-ripening process 

 occurs. Timothy seed usually attains its maximum germinability in 

 about 3 or 4 weeks after it is harvested, when nearly 100 percent 

 should germinate. As the seed becomes older, the viability, or abil- 



