The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1914-01-11
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!: BERMUDA GRASS. =:
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, BY F.. A. Mitchell, Chandler, Okla
Route >.
Planning for the new year and in
r that plan We will have some grass
- For many years the experiment
Z station and progressive farmers have
been trying all kinds Of grass. As
p q result of these experiments it is
conceded that there is but one onlH
successful and profitable pasture
grass for Oklahoma, it being the
hardy bermuda
Bermuda is a southern grass. The
time was when it would not gro"
successfully in Oklahoma. 1t has
now become acclimatod or hardy
sufficiently to endure the winter
reasonably well in Oklahoma and
nearby states.
If we are one crop sys.cm cotton
farmers we don't want bermuda
grass. If are deslrous Of utiliz-
ing our rough ground, our long
washed and wasted hillsides and
raising some live stock we surely
want some hardy bermuda grass
pasture.
1t is the best pasture grass We
have and as good as any grown in
other states. 1t will develop just
as fast horses, sleek mules, prime
beeves or home builder dairy cows
as any grass grown.
We are breeders of the improved,
big, hearty, bermuda and a close
student of grasses for the south
west.
1t Is from experience that we
shall write for the press and answer
letters in regard to bermuda. It isl
not new grass that we are intro
duCing. 1t Is an old time tried,
southern grass now being aCClimat-
ed to norhern sections. In Texas
it Is a pest. Gets into the cotton
| fields and as they do not have
enough cold weather to kill IT, the
grass keeps growing where they
prefer TO raise cotton. In Oklahoma
It doesn't take the land fast enough
to please those who have tried It
and know of its value. We want
grass that will grow upon all types
of our Oklahoma soil We Want a
grass that will grow whorS alfalfa
will not thrive Bermuda will do
better upon a poor seed bed than
many other plants. 1t will appre-
ciate and compensate for good
seed bed by an abundant yield of
rich protein ladened stem and fol-
iage.
AS important as the seed bed is
the seed or plant.
Bermuda seed does not develop
very much in the United States. 1t
Is mostly imported. 1t is very low
in terminating power. A plant from
the seed has low vitality. 1t is cas-
lily injured by drouth and killed
by freezing especially if thre is
but little moisture in the ground.
The difference between bermuda
grown from the seed and hardy
bermuda propagated from setting the
roots from hearty bermuda, Is that
the hardy bermuda is the survival
of the hardest and strongest plants
during term of many years. Es-
tablishing herd Of horses from
the broncho stock instead of using
the improved animals of our time as
a foundation stock would be parallel
with sowing seed of bermuda instead
of setting roots from improved va
rictics of Oklahoma bermuda.
There are breeders Of bermuda
just as of horses, cotton and corn
\ br,der of bermuda would not
ship old or poor ROOTS. He could
not 9reord to do it, Its his business
and in it he has commendable
pride
| 7, ,r,o,. To urotppt ,,c yOunu plnuf
from excessive freezing during the
first winter they should be planted
as deeply as possible We have
tried many methods I'm planting. The
one giving the best results Is to
open a fulrow with lister as deep
| ly as possible Having roots cut
| into pieces about a foot long and
| thoroughly wet, drop a piece about
every three feet in the bottom Of
tn listed lurrow Using a hoe, .
place about two inches of moist dirt
upon the root and step upon It IN
passing. to firm the soil. Then with |
harrow fill in enough dirt to place |
about an inch of loose dirt upon the
root and your par' of the work has
been well done 1t will be a long
time. two weeks or more, before the
bermuda will be growing above |
ground. When it does come forth ii (
will he n delight to YOU to see how |
rapidly It grows, the stem reaching /
everywhere, establishing new plants |
every few inches until IL occupies !
all space. leaving no room for weeds |
and no opportunity for soil erosion |
Later it will establish an upright .