Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-05-04
An Asset of Great Value to the Farmer

Bermuda grass will grow on almost any
Kind Of soil. though it gives its best re-
suits on welI-prepared land Of moderate
fertility. II will grow with satisfaction
on the heaviest red clay lands OF the
south. on uplands and lowlands; hili
tons or stones. provided the elevation Is
not tho great. and in rich valley or Dot
tom lands. Its greatest value Is Tor STOP
ing and rolling lands and for uplands on
which tame grasses cannot De Cultivated
The rich moist valley lands or the low
bottofu lands OF the rivers and creeks
can be utilized for the production OF corn
forage OF fodder crops or some OF the
tame grasses to beNter advantage than
bermuda unless they are subject 10 Sc
rious washing on slOping. rolling up
land soils where washing Is very oac'
owing TO IN etorrential nature OF the
rainfall OF the south, the grass II given
a proper chance will form dense 500
and eventually stop erosion. In fact. Der
muda grass is now being employed quite
extensively in sections where lespedeza
ard other wild clovers and grasses have
taken possession Of a part Of the land 10
sion up the gullies as mentioned. IL Is
also being used in hike manner in tame
pastures and in every instance that nas
come TO the attention OF the writer, the
owing to the torrential nature OF the
her that the bermuda grass does not
give its best results on high elevations
though II will grow with satisfactory re-
suits on many OF the soils Of the Cum
berland plateau situated fully 1000 feet
above the sea level. While 1t will grow
on poor cherry soils Il does not give the
satisfaction here that il does on the bet
ter type Of upland clay soils. This is nat
ural, for bermuda. like every other
grass. does best when given kindly treat
uent and a soil situation that provides
a fair supply Of available plant food.
Il il its ability TO resist drought. to
Withstand the tramping OF animals. TO
form dense sod. prevent soil washing
70 furnish an abundance Of grazing
through so long a period OF the year and
its 1--we stick carrying capacity that
should endear IL to the southern farmer
and make II a subject of special study
aud attention.
On the other hand Il has certain draw
backs which may be regarded as seri'
Gus. but which do not begin to onset its
virtues. The principal objection to this
grass Is based on the difficulty OF Grad
icating IL owing to the method OF self.
propagation which has already been re-
ferred to. That IL can be controlled has
been demonstrated tme and again. and
that IL Is fool-hardy TO taik abUut Grad
icating IL on many soil situations is alb.
surd Would Il not be infinitely better for
the southern farmer 10 have millions OF
acres OF bermuda sod land capable OF
maintaining large herds Of cattle, sheep,
etc. rather than have so large a pei
cent Of barren. quilted hill sides and
fields overrun with sedge grass and
brfars, utterly unproductive and OF nc
value for farming purposes until i'm
proved through a systematic rotation OF
crops and a plentiful supply OF animal
manures or vegetable matter in the form
OF green crops. There are thousands OF
farmers who have not the stock or the
capital to reclaim their lands after the
method Indicated. but who have both the
time and ability TO cover their land with
bermuda sod. thus not only enrichins
themselves and their lanus but convert
ing their barren hills into land capable Of
nourishing and maintaining large mum
hers OF live stock. What a picture the
country would then present, covered as
II would be with an undulating mantle OF
green for nine TO ten months Of the
year: whereas today Il stands brown and
sere with great red woods showing here
and there. making the landscape at once
depressing and disconcerting- II there
f. one thing that IL injuring the south
today and standing in the way OF its de-
veiopment IL is the unfortunate i'm
preston that these red fields and areas
~ waste land make on the visitor: and
10 think that IL might all be in q great
measure prevented through a large util-
ization OF bermuda grass. seems almost
incredible.
when the eradication Of Bermuda grass
becomes necessary IL can be gone about
An several ways. Being a semi-tropical
plant Il Is sensitive TO the actin of
frost. and II the ground is broken shallow
fl the fall 80 as to expose the turf 10 the
action Of the winter freezes, most OF Il,
II not ali, will succumb. Further south
Il can also be seriously injured by break
ing in the manner described in the warm
est and driest part OF the summer season.
Then, after breaking the land II smother
crops Of velvet beans. soy beans or clean
culture in corn. sorghum or cotton be
pursued and kept up for two or three
years. the Bermuda grass will be de-
stroyed. n three years does not suffice.
four OF five will. and the Bermuda Is no
worse to contend with than a weed in
tested patch and certain II Is that Ber-
muda will hold the weeds I'm check.
Then why should there be such serious
and strenuous objection to a grass sod on
the cultivated fields Of the south IL. IL Is
held In check until after the crop Is prop
erly made II then not only furnishes a
vast amount OF grazing for live stock. but
Il covers the land during the winter and
50 prevents washing. Is IL not after all
a kindly and considerable Providence
that has adapted Bermuda grass so admi-
rably TO the south? Thus. the grass can
be controlled and eradicated almost al