The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1878-08-02
BERMUDA GRASS.

81 planted last February G5 acres in
Bermuda grass, in rows feet wide and )
feet in drills, and have since planted row
of peas in each middle, and cultivated some.
I want to plant more grass next season. If
there is a better plan where plants are
scarce, would like to know it.
want to SOW the lands already set in
grass, in wheat and oats next fall, manuring
some. Will it injHre the grass to plough
it up at that season? The grass is what L
want-N. II. Luthcrsrille, Ga, June 10,
1878"
MISUNDERSTANDING grass is becoming a
subject of SO general interest, that rather
more extended account of it than the inquiry
in hand calls for, seems appropriate. In the
first place, it is tropical plant, and does
not perfect seed in this country. n great
many seem not to have learned this fact
We have very frequent inquiries for seed.
1t is propagated exclusively by pieces of
its underground growth, Whilst the por-
tiou above ground is killed in the winter,
the life of the plant is preserved until the
next spring, by numerous underground
stems. These ramify in every direction
through the soil, and az soon as warm
weather sets in-say in April or May
send up stalks to the surface. From these
"runners" spread in every direction, caking
root where circumstances favor, something
after the manner Of Strawberries, and from
these in turn again, underground stems arc
developed. 1t forms ultimately very
dense sward, which neither tramping nor
very close grazing damages, for the obvious
reason, that the underground stems are ever
present, and ready to send up now growth
above ground. Drought arrests it's growth,
but upon the advent of rain it at once
springs up into new life. A decided "pcst"
in cultivated lands, it is for Summer pasture
(May to October inclusive) not only unri-
vailed, but incomraraby superior to any
thing else and on rich bottom lands pro-
duces large quantity Of the very best hay.
The distance at which Bermuda should
be planted to secure 4 thick sward in short
est time, has not been determined by care.
ful experiment. If the soil is rich and
damp, it spreads more rapidly than when it
is poor and dry. a wet season is also more
favorable to its spreading than dry one
the extending runncrs" taking root at
every joint on a wet surface If plants arc
abundant it is best to put them out thickly,
say in checks 2 feet each way, that they
may quickly take possession Of the land
not giving intruders an opportunity to get
in. With scarcity Of plants, and these
set out at wide distances apart over whole
field, it is doubtful whether anything would
be gained in time, over making two or more
thick paintings, in successive winters, on
portions of the land. Under almost any
plan or treatment, it will however in COM
parativcly short time take possession of land
unless ploughed during dry, hot weather,
or shaded by other growth. The planting
and cultivating of peas in the middles will
do no harm, if the ploughins is done when
the ground is damp, but if the spreading
grass is rooted up, by cultivating the peas
in dry weather, it is liable either to be
killed or to be retarded in growth and
spreading.
1t is common belief that one Of the
best methods Of eradicating Bermuda, is to
plough it up in winter, and expose it to the
freezes. Some is doubtless killed that way,
but in our observation not great DEAL
That portion fully exposed on the surface
of the soil may be killed, but most of that
covered up escapes. After the winter rains
set in and the ground continues damp,
ploughing will not injure your Bermuda
much, but fall ploughing in dry weather
may destroy much of it. Aside from this,
however, if you wish rapid growth of Bcr-
mu1a, do not shd,ke it with q small grain
crop Continuous shading by grain fol-
lowed by peas (broadcast,) is one Of the
most effective means of cradicatins Der.
in,ida - Syuthc,p CnHirnfDr