The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1919-06-27
CREEPING GRASS
GOOD PASTURACE
Petit Gazen Is Prolific in Coastal
Plain Belt From Virginia
to Texas
PROSPERS ON SANDY LOAN
Continues Growing Throughout Most
of Year, Being Damaged Only Dur
ing Periods of Severe Drought
or Heavy Frost.

prepared by the United States Depart
ment Of Agriculture.)
Petit Gazen-the Creole name for
carpet grass-is a perennial, creeping
grass, prolific in the coastal plain belt
from southern Virginia to Texas. 1t
forms dense, close turf. Carpet
grass, native to the West Indies, pros
pers particularly well on sandy loan
soil where the moisture is near to the
surface most Of the year. The grass
is of dual utility, as it will yield
seed crop even during the period when
it is srazed to capacity. This is eX-
planned by the fact that the live stock
feed principally on the basal leaves,
while the slender flower stems are al
lowed to mature unmoleSted.
In the section where carpet grass
predominates it eXcels all other peren-
NAL grasses as permanent pasture.
It continues growing throughout most
of the year, being damaged only during
periods of severe drought or of heavy
frost. In order to maintain the pas
lures in good condition heavy grazing
is necessary, and alternate grazing OF
two fields is preferable to continuous
grazing of a single field. Under
favorable conditions carpet grass
will support one head Of live
stock to two acres, being about
equal in carrying capacity to
blue grass. Lespedeza, or Japan clio
ton of the mechanical harvester. This
will in turn release man labor for 9TH
er important work during the fall
months.
Heat and Moisture Needed.
For maximum development carpet
grass requires abundant heat and
moisture, and where these conditions
are satisfied it furnishes valuable pas
turage from May until November, or
In the extreme South even longer.
During cold weather it makes little
growth Where. field of carpet grass
Is allowed to grow tall in the fall cat
tie will Craze with great relish on the
dead tops during the winter.
Although at present commercial seed
in quantity is seldom obtainable, car
pet grass may be sown if necessary
by moving the grass after the seed
has matured and scattering the straw
with the seed over the field where it
is desired to sow the grass. If condi-
lions are favorable to carpet grass it
is sure to possess the land, provided
the grazing is heavy enough to keep
down the weeds and taller grasses.
For Use on Lawns.
For use on lawns carpet grass may
be propagated by sets or pieces of sod.
To obtain q good sod the land should
be well prepared to a depth Of to 8
inches and generously fertilized with
20 or more tons to the acre Of we'll
rotted stable manure. Where neces-
sary, from 500 to 1000 pounds per acre
of high-grade supplementary fertilizer
may also be applied. The carpet grass
plants should be set about II inches
apart each way. In planting small
lawns it is usually best to put out the
sets with the trowel or some other
hand tool, while on large lawns it Is
more economical to pillow the land and
drop the sets or pieces of sod the prop
er distance apart in the burrows. The
land should be rolled after setting car
pet grass in order to press the loose
soil close around the plants.