Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-06-12
COME WORTHWHILE GRASS AND
CLOVERS

Unless one studies a subject, one
is not likely to acquire much val
liable information relative thereto.
probably on this account we nave
not made as much progress with
grass and clovers as we should be
cause the energy and effort OF the
cotton farmer has hitherto always
been directed toward fighting grass.
From one point of view, this was
no doubt quite proper, but now that
crop diVerSification has become more
necessary and essential than In pre-
vious years, grass and cloverS intel
ligently selected and planted are like
" to prove the farmers most val
good deal of worthwhile data
concerning some of our common
clovers and the better known of the
grasses adapted to general cultlVa-
ton has been gathered together ana
is presented in concrete form for our
readers. This information is based
on the Investigations made by the
division of agronomy of the Georgia
State College of Agriculture through
it's field representative, Mr.. Paul
Tabor.
Bur clover is our best annual Glow
err, but is very hard to get started on
most of our lands. 1t also winter
kills sometimes, over most of the
state and disappears if grazed hard
during the spring. Normally it
and reseeds itself during April, and
Nav. With care, it yields well on
good land, furnishing plenty. of early
spring grazing. 1t is relished by
hogs, but not so well by cattle or
horses, some refusing it altogether,
but the majority soon learn to like it.
Bur clover seed do not terminate
well. This is due in part to hard
seed coats, in part to the protection
offered by the bur and to the rail-
u to
this reason either heavy seeding or
special conditions must be provided
to secure a good stand of bur clover.
If seeded broadcast, from four to
six bushels of seed per acre should
be used, but if put in rows a smaller
amount will suffice. Seeding in rows
is more certain, especially if stable.
manure anC acid phosphate are used.
Usually enough inoculating material
is carried in the dirt with the seed.
recommended. To secure them the
burs are cleaned and ground slight
ly in a small feed mill. This Will
shell the seed and make it possible
to separate them with sieve. Clean
seed require incubation.
Black medic is a close relative to
but clover and alfalfa but smaller
than either. Its value lies in the
ability to grow on poor soils and to
produce very high quality grazing.
IL SCarCS mere SLOWLY lAaH Jul Civ
er, but goes longer in the summer.
Most of our experience with it is
limited to more fertile limestone
soils though it is really only. posi-
bi1ity under average Georgia cond1-
ii ms. In oculation is necessary. but
soil in which bur clover or alfalfa
has grown recently will successfully
inoculate the black medic. From ten
to fifteen pounds of seed per acre
during the fall or late winter as suf-
ficient for good stand
In extreme north Georgia Red Top
is considered the best hay grass
extent for grazing. Over the re-
mali -er of Georgia it has good prom
Use as an early. spring pasture grass.
in the low places and sometimes
poorly there, but in the remainder of
the state it will add materially to the
early grazing, especially on bottom
soils. From four to ten pounds of
seed per acre seeded during the fall
are needed.
For early and late growing. or
chard grass is excellent. In north
Georgia it can be used to good adj
vantage on the fertile, partly shaded
spots. It's adaptation to south Geor-
but is questionable. Orchard grass
should be seeded on prepared seed
bed during the fall at a rate of six
to twenty pounds of seed per acre,
depending on the amount Of other
grasses used. 1t is a perennial, so
will live for years.
Tall oat is similar to orchard
grass in the time of growing, but is
more exacting in it's requirements.
Disease and drought will cause it to
succumb more quickly. On fertile
uplands, however, it can be used to
advantage. From ten to twenty
pounds of seed per acre are needed.
Rescue grass is an annual, fur
nishing grazing during late, fall and
early spring. It is adapted only to
good soils and must be grazed with
care if reseeding occurs. Seeding
should be done during the fall at the
rate Of twenty pounds per acre. Arc
tic grass Or cheat is similar to- res
cue grass. 1t will grow on poorer
soils, however, and for this reason is
favored more highly by some.
Rye grass will make excellent pas
turage during the spring for one
year. Under our conditions, even the
perennial, rye grass, disappears, aft
er one season. Sometimes 1t reseeds