Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-07-21


and. as usual. there Is a shortage OF
Grass suitable for the maintenance Of
I've stock This seems almost incredible
~ section Of the country where Ber-
mnda grass. Caprf0la Dactylon. grows SO
n successfully. Unfortunately. its value Is
net always appreciated as Il should be.
4 and on this account the attention has
not been given 70 its cultivation and es7i
taniAShmenV On many locations III adapt
ed for the growth OF a variety OF crops
n which = wise. economic policy seems to
justify. Bermuda grass goes under vart-
n ety OF names. being known In some To-
calitlex as dogs tooth grass Scotch
grass. wiregrass. Bahama grass and IN
q dian couch grass II Is thought by some
n - be identical with the Durva or sacred
grass Of the Hindoos- These facts. how
ever. while OF interest to scientists are OF
n not 50 much concern to the farmer be-
cause the grass has demonstrated its
q wide adaptabllity to the climatic and soil
d conditions prevailing In the south. AS
those know who have attempted 10 eradi-
s. cate il from cultivated fields. Il develops
81 chiefly ~ creeping stems. some Of these
n having been observed over twelve feet
long. The grass roots really from the
A PROSTATE nodes. and another popularity
\ Of Bermuda i that two TO four leaves
VIII generally be observed growing from
q each node. whereas In ordinary grasses
only one grows.
For pasture purposes Bermuda Is I'M
ecuaied In the southern states, being
adapted 70 growth on great variety OF
soils. but Of course Ike any other plant
81 making larger yields on rich ground For
d lawn purposes 4 Is also uneQualied. pro-
xfaed tire trees are not too close together
q and trimmed high so as 70 permit the
u sur 70 strike under them As a retainer
Il or aiIlsides and reducer OF erosion. it
4 stands supreme. its roots striking deep
q " into the soil and clinging with
q tenacfty that will enable it to cover and
protect an almost perpendicular hillside
q for an indefinite period Of time The
Il tenacify and hardihood OF the grass are
Il well illustrated BY the fact that many
Al old field has been cIother with good
s SOD In the course Of a few years which
n Rad been thrown out as Improbable for
further cultivation. While the grass VIII
h establish itself under unfavorable condi-
lions IN the course OF time. those desir
Ing 20 develop a pasture for immediate
Use win find Il advisable to prepare the
n land with some care. blowing Il as for
any other acid crop. working down
good seed bed. sometimes fe-siltzing
lightly. top dressing with yard manure,
ard planting the sets out IN rows some
what similar 70 the method followed in
n planting potatoes and other field crops.
IN the fall and winter the crop can often
be narrowed and dressed with fertilizer
or manure TO good advantage. The fact
o. the matter II Bermuda grass has so
long been regarded as pest and a nuis-
ance on the cotton farms OF the south
that no attempt las been made TO de-
vesop and care for Il as should have been
done. and therefore. but little is known
or It's qualities or the treatment best
calculated to insure the farmer the best
return from its cultivation.
While some sods Of Bermuda have
been established from seed It's germinat-
Il ing power Is low and the seed i costly
and unsatisfactory as rule. The plants
develop slowly are very tender when
4 young and are easily injured and chicken
cut BY weeds. On this account Ii Is best
4 to establish the crop through the use of
sets about two inches square These sets
may . dropped Is inches apart in rows
across the field and stepped on In pass
ing. Another method IS to open shall
l0w furrow across the field. drop in the
Il sets and cover Fery lightly with a hote
o. double shovel plox depending on the
area to be planted. Deep covering. of
course. Il not advisable Another method
Or establishing q sod IN the fall is plow-
ing In the sets. aay every three or four
feet, when turning the land Deep plow-
Ing. Of course. would not be advisable in
q this case Then RE or some other crop
n may be sown on the land as winter cover
and grazed .4own close in the spring or
i cut and removed early IN the season and
u the grass given an opportunity to grow.
On rought hiIIsIdes and broken areas the
grass may be established Oy making
smaaI holes with hoe and planting and
covering lightly with earth Where the
land = not 90 rough, some form OF
implement may b used TO open shallow
Il burrows and the sets dropped therein
4 and covered either by hand or horse
power
Bermuda has eat been valued for q
hay crop Is IL snonld be- Ii should be
cut Tor hay just before the tops break
q out. for after the plant blossoms the
4 lower leaves begin to fail and the upper
portion dries. Il should. OF course. be
moved and cured Just the same as any
other hay. As to whether more than
TWO cuttings win be secured in a year
Il wfI depend much on the fertilization
n and attentiGe. given the land The yield
will also vmrT much in proportion to the
i character OF SON in which it i grown.
\ but each cutting should yield from one
half 10 two tons per acre AS matter
of fact the systematic cultivation OF
the grass and It's proper fertilization viii
n Improve the quality and quantity OF
the hay. or course. II f. necessary to re-
Nfwe the sod when II becomes 100 mick
~ blowing and narrowing II a roller
~ used 70 smooth the surface after this
process. the land will be left IN excellent
condition for the mower. This grass
docs not enrich the soil Ike clover and
,4ner ieguminous crops. On this ac-
~nssns Il Il not priced as much as it
SHOULD he. nor has il given the results
fhaf should be anticipated from X under
rore favorable conditions. for. as rule,
4 has been established on old WORKOUT
s~ea~ az land which were regarded as
.,rnwonfa1,fe for other purposes. The
edition Of humus to the soil for this
lass and top dressings with nitrate OF
soda at the rate Of 100 pounds per acre
viii BE- very helpful In increasing the
s,,aaftv and quantity secured
bermuda grass l. easily digested and
nax 10 equal as q cheap food for cattle
ana ether classes Of live stock maintain
- - the south This statement viii be
~.,rnrfsEng 10 many. but It Is fact wen