The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-05-14
BERMUDA GRASS is BEST.
For Pasturage and Lawn Purposes
1t Has No Superior.

Ii Has No Superior.
Clemson College, May 9-"Ber-
muda grass" says Mr.. J. N. Harper,
director Of the experiment station,
lis the best Southern grass"
Bermuda was introduced into this
country about eighty-five years ago
from the Bermuda Islands. 1t came
to those islands from England, and it
Is thought that It's original home was
India. 1t is the most valuable grass
the South possesses, and Is the best
Tor pasturage and lawn purposes. It's
true value is not yet appreciated even
by Its most ardent advocates. There
are several varieties Of this grass
grown In the South, differing from
each other mainly In the size of stems
and spikelets and in hardness. Some
of the smaller hardy types are two
to three weeks earlier in making
their growth in the spring than are
the coarser varieties.
There are other species Of grass Of
ten mistaken by the farmer for Ber-
muda, and for this reason Bermuda Is
sometimes denounced as being worth
less. The grasses most commonly
mistaken for Bermuda are wire grass
(Eleusine indica) and Egyption
grass, (dactyloctenius aegyptinem.)
When grown on we'll improved soil
and we'll treated, Bermuda will afford
during six months Of the year as
much grass as the average blue grass
pasture Of Kentucky I have known
one acre to furnish all the food for
six calves during the summer months.
Three acres of this grass on improv-
ed land will pasture Is brood sows
with their litters, without other food
than that afforded by five acres Of
forage crops. When grown on rich bot
otm lands and kept from weeds and
properly fertilized Bermuda makes a
splendid meadow, as it can be cut
twice during the season, often yield
ing three to four tons of excellent
hay. Bermuda hay Is rich in carbo-
hydrates and makes as good hay as
timothy. 1t Is we'll suited for work
stock, but not so good for dairy cat
tie.
Thirty-one years ago an agricul-
tural writer had this to say about this
grass: In one respect it Is the most
remarkable grass within our knowl-
edge, as one can with equal ease find
that 1t Is the most valuable Of all
grasses, and one that Is to restore
worn-out fields and bring untold
blessings wherever introduced, as that
on the other hand 1t Is a curse to the
soil. and that when 1t once gets a
footing on the soil the owner may as
we'll give 1t up at once as to do so at
the end of a struggle in which he is
sure to be worsted."
Fortunately we. have found out
that Bermuda Is not so serious
weed enemy; for, as it does not ma
ture seed to any extent in this coun-
try and spreads only by underground
and overground stems, 1t can he cas-
lily Kept In check. AS 1t is a tropical
plant and requires plenty of sunlight
1t can be easily eradicated In three
years by shading it out with winter
legumes, such as vetch, planted
with oats, followed by a summer le-
gume, such as peas or velvet beans. 1.
does not damage cotton the extent
that does crab grass, and a good crop
OF corn can be made, If properly cul-
tivated, in a field badly infested with
Bermuda.
Bermuda is Of great benefit to the
soil, In that 1t prevents washing and
fills the soil with innumerable fibrous
roots which produce the best form Of
humus. If planted in the fall it can
be grown with oats or vetch. 1t is
splendid plant for terrace banks, rail-
road banks and pond banks to pre-
vent them from washing in. 1t re-
quires plenty of sunlight and cannot
be grown in shady places.
Bermuda can be propagated by
sowing the seed or by planting pieces
or sod. good way to obtain a sod
Is to break the land with a turn ev-
cry twelve inches. This can be done
almost any time during the year, but
1t Is best done in early spring. If
planted In the spring it should fol-
low some winter legume: If planted
in the fall it should follow COW peas,
soy beans, velvet beans, or beggar
weed. After planting the sod, the