The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1915-01-21

Lespedeza is one of the few annual
plants that are suitable for pastures.
Is seeds near the ground and unless
extremely close grazing is practjced
is self perpetuating. 1t often grows
on land SO low in fertility that moth
ing else will survive, but it succeeds
best on rich, fertile loans in the low
er Mississippi Valley, where it some
times grows to height of 2 feet or
more and makes very satisfactory
crop of hay. Lespedeza belongs to
the legume family Of plants and en-.
riches the soil with nitrogen. For this
reason alone it is always desirable to
mix this with Bermuda grass for pas
lures. 1t is slow in staring growth
in the spring, but makes it's best
I growth in midsummer and A snot
checked until heavy frosts CONC in
the fall
Bur Glover and White Glover.
1t is always desirable to seed with
, Bermuda grass and lespedeza some.
thing that will furnish winter grazing.
! The two plants best suited for that
purpose are bur clover and white or
Dutch clover. These take possession
OF the land during the winter and fur
nish excellent grazing until hot wealth
er comes, when they give way to the
Bermuda grass. Bur Glover is an an
nual, but reseeds itself readily. White
clover is perennial and propagates it.
self both by seed and by creeping
rootstocks.
Bur clover should be seeded in late
summer or fall at the rate of Is
pounds of hulled seed or 2 bushels of
the burs to the acre. White clover is
best seeded at the same time, using
to pounds to the acre.
While the Bermuda-grass, lespedeza,
bur-clover, and white-clover mixture
is undoubtedly the best combination
that can be sown for pastures over the
greater part of the cotton-growing
region, there are a few other grasses
that will be better to plant under
certain conditions.
Italian Rye-Grass.
Italian rye-grass is the best temper
airy winter pasture grass for the
South. Its chief merit lies in it's abi
lty the produce a luXuriant growth OF
nutritious grass quickly after seeding
Usually it does not last more than
two or three years, and for practica
purposes it must be considered an an
nual. In pastures it serves the pur
pose of furnishing abundant grazing
during the winter months and while
the other grasses. are becoming estab
lshed. 1t grows well where Bermuda
grass fourishes, and is recommended
to be used wherever Bermuda-grass
planting is done, whether by the seed
or sod method. The seed of Italian
rye-grass is of strong termination
and 30 pounds to the acre is sufficient
for full stand, while 10 pounds is
probably sufficient for sowing in mix
lures or to replenish thin sod on ar
old pasture. Seeding is best done in
the fall
Redtop.
Redtop is a widely known pature
and hay grass. 1t is a heavy-produc
ing grass; neither is the hay Of
especially good quality. When KEEP
closely grazed, stock eat 1t readi
ly It's ability to grow on soils
that are wet or poor in lime makes
it worthy Of consideration. 1t grows
freely in combination with Other
grasses and adds to the bulk of herb
age produced without crowding oui
the plants with which it is associat
ed.
1t Is best propagated from seed
using to pounds to the acre. Seed
ing is best done in the fall. The direc
lions given for seeding Bermuda ap
play especially we'll to seeding red
top.
Orchard grass Is a coarse-growing
bunchy grass that furnishes good graz
ing in early spring and late fall. its
growth Is checked during hot weather
It will endure considerable rough
treatment without injury and should
be kept closely grazed for the best
results. No other grass will stand