The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1915-08-21
FOR SUMMER PASTURE
SUGGESTIONS on Planting Bermuda
Grass in South.
Resistant to Heat, Drought and Tram
pIing by Live Stock-Tendeney to
Become Sod Bound-Used to
Arrest Soil Erosion.

prepared by the United States De-
partment of Agricultural
Bermuda grass is we'll and favorably
known in the South. On most soils 1t
Is grown primarily as summer pas
turage, although it is cut to some ex-
tent for hay. 1t is resistant to heat.
drought and trampling by live stock.
but the leaves are easily killed by
frost, and the plants rarely survive the
winter north of the Potomac and Ohio
rivers. Hence Bermuda grass finds its
chief field of usefulness in the south
ern states as far north as Virginia
and Kentucky. On account of its
dense growth and abundant leafiness.
Bermuda grass yields very heavily in
proportion to its height. Ordinarily 1t
will average about one ton of hay per
acre to a cutting, but double this
yield has been obtained under favor
able conditions. While yields are
small on poor land, rich moist soil
will produce fairly heavy yield. and
two crops can ordinarily be cut each
year. Both pastures and meadows
should be plowed once every few
years on account Of the tendency OF
this grass to become sod bound.
Bermuda grass has about the same
feed value as timothy hay when used
as a feed for horses. Mules do about
equally well upon either Bermuda
grass or timothy. The former hay.
however, has no fixed status on the
market, which is. of course, handi-
cap when the crop is offered for sale
Louisiana uses more Bermuda grass
hay than any other state.
The propagation of Bermuda grass
is largely by sowing. or planting small
pieces of rootstocks or of the sod.
The work is easily done, the root
stocks being chopped up in a cutting
box and sown broadcast on well pre-
pared ground, and then covered with
q disk or common harrow. In some
instances the sod itself Is used. Some
farmers prefer to plant cuttings In
in shallow burrows 3 feet apart, The
plants being set about IS inches apart
In rows. A corn marker or shovel
cultivator may be used for opening
the burrows. After the cuttings are
dropped they should be covered at
once with soil The covering may be
done either with the foot or hoe To
save the loss Of the land while Ber-
muda grass is starting, 1t may be
planted in rows Of any intertilled crop
after the last cultivation. Bermuda
grass does not thrive, however, II too
densely shaded. When an old field is
plowed the sod can be torn into
shreds and used in starting a new
field, by throwing pieces into the fur.
row after the plow, and covering with
a harrow.
The farmer may desire to start his
field Of Bermuda grass by sowing the
seed rather than propagating by root
stocks The seed of Bermuda grass
is now grown in Arizona, and this Is
OF much better quality than that for
merly on the market The seed is very
fine and rather high priced. therefore
the seed bed should be we'll prpared
and firm, in order to avoid too deep
sowing. The seed should be sown at
the rate Of to pounds per acre, and
covered with a roller. The best time
to SOW in the extreme South is In
February or early March-farther
north in March or April. The seed
is mixed with meal or soil, SO as to
make a larger bulk and make 1t easy
to scatter more evenly.
Bermuda grass is sometimes planted
with hairy vetch, lespedeza or other
crops in permanent pastures. thus i'm
proving the quality Of the pasturage
On Bermuda grass and vetch pastures
the live stock should be kept of for
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