The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1897-07-28
Timothy Meadows after Hay Harvest.

In the great majority of cases the
real cause OF the success or failure of
the timothy field lies in the treatment
1t receives after it has been seeded
down. AS a rule, it is not difficult
matter to get a good stand of grass
The trouble is in 30 handling the field
as to get good returns and still keep the
sod in a healthy, growing condition,
In ali dry situations timothy develops
dubious thickenings of greater or less
extent at the bases Of the stalks, which
become filed with wster and enable
the plants to survive drouthy periods.
If the cutting takes place too early in
the season, these bulbs do not become
sufficiently developed and the plants
are more easily influenced by the hot,
dry weather which often prevails dur
ing summer and autumn. Again, the
conditions may be such that late cut
ting will do serious damage to the sod.
Experience has shown that ordinar-
lily pasturing has bad effect upon the
vitality of the timothy meadow. The
trampling of the stock destroys the
bulbs of the plants and packs the
ground, rendering it more liable to
bake, says T. A. Williams, in an ex-
haustive article in the forthcoming year
book for 1896 of the United States De-
partment of Agriculture. Sheep are
particularly hard on timothy, because
of the close grazing and excessive
trampling resulting from their feeding
in focks. When the meadow is on
low, rich, moist bottom land, it will
stand a limited amount of grazing
There is some doubt as to whether
spring or fall pasturing does the greater
injury. Many farmers hold that spring
grazing does less damage if the stock il
taken off before the timothy begins tC
"joint." 1t is more than likely thai
much depends upon the character Of
the season and the condition and treat
ment of the sod.
Since most of the nourishment which
this grass draws from the soil comes
from near the surface, the meadow
should be given top-dressing every
year or two. Ordinary stable manure
is most commonly used in the west
since it is the only fertilizer easily &C
cessible. 1t should be we'll rottec
when applied, and then it will be read
lily available to the plants. In prac
tice, the manure is put on the field dur
ing the fall, winter or spring, as bes
suits the convenience of the farmer
The least waste occurs and the best re
! suits are obtained, however, when ap
y plication is made in early spring.
\ 1t is frequent thing for the timothy
! meadow to become "hidebound." Thi
usually occurs in meadows that have
been in use for some years, and is dut
mainly to two causes. First, through
insufficient cultivation, the driving
rains and hot summer suns pack ant
bake the ground so hard that the plant
can grow only with great difficulty
second, as the plants become older,
great many offshoots are developed
each with its Dubious base, and all ar,
crowded together in such small are,
that none can make satisfactory
growth. The remedy for such condi
ton OF things is to give the meadow {
good top-dressing in early spring ant
follow this with heavy harrow, thor
oughly tearing up the sod. This breaks
up the crust and allows the soil to alb
sorb water more readily, while it tends
to lessen the loss by evaporation. L
also separates the punches of timothy
plants and allows them to develoI
properly. If the meadow is top-dresseC
and narrowed often enough, this "hide
bound" condition will be avoided.
Many farmers SOW also small guam
tity of redtop with their timothy. Thi,
grass fills in the spaces between thu
punches of timothy, and hence more
even sod is produced. 1t is not goot
plan to use too much redtop, however
or it will crowd out the timothy, as it i,
very hardy and spreads more rapidly
than the latter.-New England Home
stead.