Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1914-06-10
BERMUDA THE BEST
SOUTHERN GRASS.
BY j. N. Harper, Director S. c. EXper-
iment Station, Clemson College.

By j. n. Harper, Director S. G. EXper-
iment Station, Clemson College.
Bermuda grass is the most valua-
BILE grass the South possesses and is
the best for pasturage and lawn pur-
poses. Its true value is not yet ap-
preciated by its most ardent advo-
Gates. There are several varieties or
types or this grass grown in the South
differing from each other mainly I'm
the size Of stems and spiculets and i'm
hardness. Some of the smaller.
hardy types are from two to three
weeks earlier in making their growth
III the early spring than are the
coarser varieties. There are other
species OF grasses, such as wire grass
ana grass, often mistaken
py arnler for Bermuda, and for this
reason Bermuda grass is sometimes
as being worthless by
farmers who have growing on their
farms the other species which are of
little value.
bermuda grass, when grown on
well improved and and
treatcd, will afford during six months
OF the year as much grass us the aver
aSe plue grass pasture of Kentucky.
l nave known II acre TO furnish all
the rood during the summe months
Tor SIN calves. Three acres OF this
grass on improved lane will pasture
lfteen brood sows with their litters.
tnry requiring no other food than
nat Afforded by five acres OF forage
crops. when grown on rich bottom
lands and kept free from weeds and
properly fertliZed, Bermuda grass af-
lords a splendid meadow, as it can be
cut twice during the season, yielding
from tnfee TO four tons of excellent
nay. Bermuda hay is rich In carbo-
hydrates and makes as goood hay as
tlinothy. 1t Is we'll suited for work
SlocK, put Is not SO good for dairy
cattle.
Fortunately, we have discovered
tnat Bermuda grass is not u serious
weed enemy, for as it Toes not mature
seed TO any extent in this country and
spreads only by underground and
oNerground stems it can be easily kept
IN check. AS 1t is n tropical plant and
requires plenty of sunlight it can be
easily eradicated in two or three years
by shading it out by growing winter
such as VetCh, planted with
oats, followed by a summer equine
Such as or velvet beans. Ber-
muda does not damage cotton any,
lhlnS Ike as much as does crab grass,
ana u good crop of corn can be made
IN the field badly infested with Ber-
muda If properly cultivated. Bermuda
grass is of great benefit to the soil i'm
that At prevents it from washing, adds
IN pcll Wv HIS lI0 Sol
with nm lmcrable fibrous roots which
produce the best form of humus, II
Is an annual with perennial, under
ground stems. If Bermuda is planted
IN the fall it can be grown with oats
and Vctch, or with bur clover. 1t is
a splendid plant for terrace banks and
is also valuable to grow on railroad
ana pond II to prevent them from
caVing in and washing away.
AS II requires plenty Of sunlight, it
wi mot r>x ,vllI T..
IL can be propagated by sowing the
SEED at the rate of two pounds to the
acre or by planting pieces of sod. A
good way to obtain a Bermuda sod is
to break the land with q turning pillow
or ulsk ploW and in every furrow drop
a small piece Of sod every twelVe
inches, the next furrow covering 1t
from two to three inches deep. 1t
can be Sodded almost any time dur
ing the year, but the best time is in
the early spring. 1t should be planted
after some winter legume, such as
bur clover, crimson clover, or vetch.
IL planted in the spring; and II
planted in the fall, should follow cow
peas, s~oybeans, velvet beans or Deg
garWecd. After the land has been
proved n the plants dropped, the
iahd should be thoroughly narrowed
10 make the pasture smooth and even
Cattle SHOULD be turned into the
pasture as soon as possible. The best
Berlnuda pasture can be ruined by
allowing weeds and other grasses to
grow. Bur clover can be sown in the
fall in a Bermuda pasture. Bermuda
grass Is usually ready for good pas
ture by June 1st. After the pasture
has remained III Bermuda grass four
or nVe years, it SHOULD be plowed up
IN the early spring and planted in
The cowpcaS will improve
the physical condition of the soil and
Will q nitrogen, which is most bene-
nclal to the Bermuda. If q Bermuda
pasture Is allowed to run too long it
~sod-Oound and a poor quality
or grass is produced. 1t is a heavy
FEEDER on nitrogen and should be fer
tlilzed with an application of nitrate
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
900 or 400 pounds per acre. A good
m TO apply this is at the time the
land Is roken in the spring
tory for I crop of peas. One thousand
pounds 1 lime Is also very beneficial.
This can be applied once every five or
six years. If Bermuda is planted with
Texas blue grass, white clover and
vetch q pasture can be OBJ
tanned that will afford good grazing
nine or ten months in the year.