The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1914-06-17
BERMUDA THE BEST
SOUTHERN GRASS.
BY j. n. Harper, Director S. c. lIXpcr-
lment Station, Clemson College.


By j. n. Harper, Director S. G. Expcr-
iment Station, Clemson College.
Bermuda grass is the most valua-
Die grass the South possesses and is
the best for pasturagc and lawn pur-
poses. It's true value is not vet an
prcciated by it's most ardent advo-
Gates. There are several varieties or
types OF this grass grown in the South
tutoring from each other mainly in
me SIZE of stems and spiculcts ana in
nardlhess. Some Of the smaller,
weeks earlier in making their growth
III the carly spring than are the
coafScr varieties. There are other
species OF grasses, such as wire grass
nia n ngyptian grass, often mistaken
~ lafhiefS FOR Bermuda and for this
reason Bermuda grass is sometimes
denounced as being worthless bv
farmers who have growing on their
itrins the other species which are OF
little value.
Bermuda grass, when grown ON
well improved land ana proDcrlv
treated, VIII afford during six months
OIL thc year as much grass as the aver
age Dlue grass pasture OF Kentucky.
nave known one acre to furnish all
lhe lood during the summer months
Tor six calves. Three acres of this
grass on improved land will pasture
i,llceh brood sows with their Htters.
MY IVY Icluirlhg no other food than
mat afforded by five acres of forage
crops. When grown on rich bottom
lahus ana kept free from weeds ana
properly fcrtiliZcd, Bermuda grass ar
lordS u splendid meadow, as it can be
cut twice during the season. Welding
from three to four tons OF excellent
nay. bermuda hay is rich in carbo-
ns"ln'eS ana makes as goood hay as
limothy. 1t is well suited for work
stock, but is not so rood FOR IoirN
cattle.
fortunately, we have discovered
that Bermuda grass is not Il serious
weed enemy, for as it uocs not mature
Sced 10 any extent in this country and
Splcaus only by underground and
oNersfounu stems it can be easily kept
IN chcck. AS 1t is Il tropical plant and
requires plenty of sunlight it can be
easily "radicat"d in two or three wears
ny shading 1T out by growing winter
lcsumcs, such us vctch, planted with
oats, followed by a summer legumn
sucn as coWpcas or velvet beans. Bcr-
nlud;t does not damage cotton anv
'hlns IKE as much as does crab grass.
ana Il good crop OF corn can be made
IN inc held badly infested with Bcr-
nuda II properly cultivated. Bermuda
grass Is OF great benefit to the soil in
that 1T prevents it from washing, adds
huinuS TO the soil and fills the soil
produce the best form of humus. 1t
Is an annual with perennial, under
ground stems. If Bermuda is planted
| IN the iall it can be grown with oats
ana Netch, or with bur clover. 1t is
II splendid plant for terrace banks ana
| is also valuable to grow on railron Il
and pond banks to prevent them from
c"vlng In and W. ing away.
Ns II requires ity OF sunlight, it
WI not grow \ in shaded places.
t.,,l 49,,
seed at the rate OF two pounds to the
acre or by planting pieces of sod. a
good way 10 obtain Il Bermuda sod is
10 broak the land with n turning plow
or DISK plow and in every furrow drop
small piece OF sod every twelve
inches, the next furrow covering it
from TWO to three inches dccp. II
can be Soddcd almost any time dur
ing the year, but the best time is in
the early spring. 1t should be planted
after some winter lcgume, such as
Dur clover, crimson clover, or vctch.
IL planted in the spring; and if
planted in the fall, should follow COW
peas, soybcans, velvet beans or beg
g].rw@9a. ] After the land has been
pioWcd and the plants dropped, the
land should be thoroughly narrowed
10 MAKE the pasture smooth and even
Cattle should be turned into the
pasture as soon as possible. The best
Bermuda pasture can be ruined bv
allowing weeds and other grasses TO
grow. Bur clover can be sown in the
tall in a Bermuda pasture. Bermuda
grass Is usually ready for good pas
ture by June lSt. After the pasture
mas remained in Bermuda grass four
or i've years it should be piowcd up
IN the early spring and planted in
| coWpcaS. Thc coWpcaS will improve
the physical condition Of the soil and
VIII add nitrogen, which Is most bcnc-
| ilcial to the Bermuda. If a Bermuda
pasture is allowed to run too long it
becomes sod bound and n poor quality
| or grass is produced. 1t is a heavy
feeder on nitrogen and should be fer
tlll"cd with an application of nitrat @
or soda about the middle OF every
April, using from so to 100 pounds
| per acre. Acid phosphate should be
applied every four years at the rate of
500 or 1CO pounds per acre. A good
tiinc TO apply this is at the time the
land Is broken in the spring prcpara-
Tory Tor q crop of peas. one thousand
pounds OF lime is also very beneficial.
rms can be applied once every five or
SIN years. If Bermuda is planted with
IcNaS Dluc grass, white clover ana
common Netch Il pasture can be OBJ
tanned that Will afford good grazing
nlhc or ten months in the year.
-<-e--o-
ISI,C(rI