Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-04-30

Z
tainlv one OF the best grasses adapted
40 southern conditions. Where some Oh
the tame grasses easy to eradicate can
he grown. ii is not advisable 10 utlllze
bermuda grass: but there are thou
sands OF acres OF land I'm the south LOT
which II is admirably adapted that eouio
Re made into the most luxurious pastures
while today they remain eye~~cres' Oct
rimental TO the country and permanent
menace and loss to the owner
Bermuda is a running grass, the stems
ioInting freely and prostrating them
selves along the ground AS il grows ana
falls down by means Of its own weight.
each new Joint roots firmly In the soh
and throws up other branches which con-
tinue the same process In the manner
already described. Thus, IL is not un-
common to find single plant OF bermuda
spreading Itself over a wide extent of sur
face In a growing season. The writer
has observed the branches from single
plant 10 number one dozen and be as
much as three to five feet long, and all
the growth OF a single season. This pow
er OF sslf-prOpagation and ability 10
snread over the ground rapidly and cover
il with a dense sod makes the plant IN
valuable in our southern climate where
the summers are hot and the suns rays
powerful. Being a native Of a semi
and grows and thrives under conditions
that would mean death and destruction
Ia other grasses. Even in the hottest
and driest weather IL furnishes most
nutritious pasture when other grasses
are dried Up.
The contrast between bermuda and blue
grass sod under such conditions IL GER
tainIy remarkable. though each grass has
its strong and weak points. The bermuda
e. 49, rrNa nd dies down
on the approach Of winter. remaining DOR
mant from one to four or five months, de-
pending on the latitude On which II Is
seeded; whereas. the blue grass makes
fits best growth in the COOL moist autumn
and winter weather. Where il is possible
for the southern farmer 10 combine these
two grasses on his farm he would have
ideal and luxuriant pastures OF pracu-
cally equal merit the year round. for
when bermuda Is young or when IL is
kept grazed closely, IL is exceedingly nu-
trftious and stock win eat II in prefer
ence to many OF the better known tame
grasses.
IL is a mistake to suppose that ber-
muda has no value as a grazing crop as
soon as toussaed by the frost The leaves
turn brown and are TO all appearances
dead. but underneath they frequently
remain green for some time. and where
the pasture has made a gooG growth be-
fore the cold weather approaches. cattle
will eat the apparently dead stems with
the greatest relish and profit as well
While bermuda y can never be Of much
service in the middle south as a hay
plant, as a pasture plant Is stands I'M
rivaIled for many sections. Like any
other grass. il gives its best results on
good land. though probably more salts
factory for pasture on lands OF mOder-
ate quality than on rich bottom lands
where II Is inclined TO gTrE too rank
and dense. and the stems become harder
and contain more celluiose and crude
fbre- On very rich land II tends to form
q sod so dense in a short time that Il
chokes itself and does not give its best
results. On open uplands of moderate
fertility II viii prove a more satisfactory
pasture for several years, and requires
less treatment TO keep the sod in good
condition than on rich bottom lands where
IL tends to mat too closely.
Compared with timothy hay ton for
ton In feeding value. at the Mississippi
station. il was found TO be slightly SUI
perior to the latter. and In fact this is
the sentiment expressed by practical feed
ers In various sections OF the south.
This is not a matter Of great interest to
the farmers OF the middle south. for It
IL not likely that II can be cultivated as
GA0R Win any E0nEAQGIdIAE sue
cess except on the rich bottom lands
mentioned. As to the yields OF hay that
may be obtained further south. Il equals
and surpasses many Of the tame grasses.
even on favorable soil situations for the
latter. The fact Of the matter is that
Bermuda grass has received so little at
tention and consideration at the hands
OF the southern people that compare
lively little OF its real virtue is known
today. though il has been cultivated for
many years.
quite equal Kentucky Blue grass. but as
only comparatively few analyses are
available on the one hand. while there
are very many on the other. II Is not
fair or proper TO draw conclusions on
this point The following tables show
the relative composition Of the two
grasses in both the cured and green
state. The analyses are by Jenkins and
Winter.
Hay. Fresh or Air Dry Material
Nitrogen
Free
Protein Fiber. Extract. Fat.
Kentucky Blue an
alyses. Cut with seed
In milk -. J.. $50 2LE 3LG $50
Bermuda snaly-
ses -. -. -. ... ..T54 a.70 ass 2Os
Water Free Substance
Kentucky Blue .... $50 $3.50 $40 $50
Bermuda go lilo 2440 $3.50 go
Green Fresh or Air Dry Material
Kentucky Blue-An
analyses. Is &c -.- 4l2 GA 1883 80
Bermuda analy-
sis ..-... 215 $50 1871 IS
Water Free Substance.
Kentucky Blue ....11.SO $50 $3.50 $40
Bermuda $50. T.sQ 20.SO 61.IO 80
AS to tie amount OF grazing it will
The GEISER Sic