The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-06-29
RHODES GRASS PROVES
MOST VALUABLE CROP
Makes Large Yields, Wristbands
Drought Wei. But Is Suitable for
Only Warmer 2arts OF the
Country.

When DIR, David Fairchild, agrt-
cultural explorer OF the United States
department of agricult ure, was travel
ing III South Africa in 1903, his at
tentton was attracted by a promising
grass being grown extensively on the
estate OF Cecil Rhodes. He secured
thirty pounds OF seed and sent 1t to
this country where tho departments
plant specialists gave it a trial and
introduced It into this Southern states
Now Rhodes grass is proving valu~
able crop, and is being grown extern
sively IN the warmer parts OF the
United States from Florida to Texas
and In Southern parts of New Mexico
and California Its value and use,
and how it should be grown. are told
In Farmers bulletin l048. recently
published by the United States de-
partment OF agriculture.
Rhodes grass was first cultivated
because OF it's pasture value. 1t bears
trampling well, RECEIVERS quickly after
it is eaten down. and Is relished by all
kinds of live stock, says the bulletin.
In pastures faVorably located. Rhodes
grass will support about two steers to
the acre for nine to ten months and
double that number during the more
favorable parts II the year. The
quality OF hay made from Rhodes
grass is superior to that of most other
grasses in that 1t contains a larger
proportion of leaves. while the stems
are slender, tender, and sweet, so that
the hay Is eaten with very little waste.
1t retains its color we'll in drying.
! therefore making an attractive bale
| for market
Rhodes grass rarely survives the win
| ter where the tern perature falls to
/ 5 or 8 degrees F.. but Is som etiInes
/ crown az an annual in regions OF
colder winters. al IL will give two or
/ three cuttings of about one ton each
during the summer and fall II does
/ best on a soil which Is fairly moist, al
though 1t will live and make growth
during several months Of drought A
deep, rich loam ia best suited to Its
! growth. but it win withstand soils
which are too alkaline for alfalfa
! sugar cane, cotton, and many other
crops. This makes II particularly val
liable in come of the Southwestern
! Irrigation regions where the water Is
somewhat alkaline.
The seeds Of Rhodes grass are very
small and light. therefore the ground
on which they are sown should be well
/ prepared. AS early In the spring a.
the soil ia In proper condition. or In
1 late summer, the. ground should be
we'll plowed and then narrowed until
the surface Ia fine and even While
seeding may be done at any time dur
ing warm weather, early spring is u.s.
TALLY preferable. Young plants are
rather tender and are easily injured by
Fighter frost or drought, Summe r
seeding is often successful. but weeds
, are more troublesome then than In
! the spring and the moisture conditions
are usually less favorable. October
seeding often gives good results.
When the land is in good condition,
and well cleaned seed is used seven to
eight hounds an acre are sufficient,
/ hut some planters use much less
From two 10 three pounds are suffi-
Gent whore a press drill is used on
well-nrepare soil. In regions OF
abundant rainfall a light narrowing,
or covering with a plank drag, Is
usually sufficient to cover the seed,
although If that is followed by roll
ing II will be better.
When Rhodes grass Ia grown on
thin. sandy, or clay soil, with only a
moderate amount of rainfall, or with
insufficient irrigation. the yield may be
one to two tons an acre. while on the
soils best suited for its growth and
we'll supplied with moisture, the Yields
are sometimes eight tons or more
Under favorable conditions, the crop
is often Srlzed in a month after seed
ing. and frequently 1t will give a fair
cutting for hay in two months, though
the first cutting is apt to be some
what weedy, Cutting should be made
as soon as the seeds begin TO ripen,
and in arid regions each cutting
should be followed imm ediateiy by an
irrigation. From three to six cut
tings usually can be made during the
year, about FIVE weeks being sufficient
for the growth Of hay crop when
all conditions are favorable. AS the
grass is very ieafy and the stems are
tender. the hay is easily cured
Nearly all the Rhodes grass seed
harvested In this country Is gathered
from about baling presses. barn floors,
and other places where the hay has
been handled. Growers can add from
s25 to $50 an acre from their crop
by making every effort TO save seed.
The bulletin suggests that one of the
simplest devices is to spread a tar
paulin over the wagon frame on which
the seed is gathered when the hay is
hauled from the field.