The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1922-05-25
as 1900 pounds per acre.

as 1900 pounds per acre.
! Though crab grass is pest in cultivated
fields it makes good palatable quality of
| light hay. 1t is generally found in connec-
ton with pea hay as it voluntarily comes up
among the peas. Grab grass is never plant
ed, though always seen in fields after it has
| once gotten in.
| Natal grass is another widely distributed
grass that makes good hay if cut at the
| right time and properly cured and stored
| 1t will grow on almost any type of SOIL
| Since its introduction into Florida, about
25 years ago, it has spread widely over the
| state and is considered a pest by some
farmers, though it's eradication in Guilt
waited field may easily be accomplished.
Yields of one to two tons per acre have
j been cut in Marion county, the higher
figure representing two cuttings per acre
the same season. 1t natures from seeding
| in about IS days.
Napier and Merker grasses are very SIM
liar in appearance and habits of growth
They are propagated from cuttings, these
being planted in rows and checked about five
feet each way. The original cutting sends
up a shoot and soon begins to tiller out and
make large clumps. If not cut the stems
will grow on good soil to a height of IL to
Is feet.
For feeding purposes these grasses are
cut before they begin to Joint" and gen
orally fed green. However, the LEAKAGE can
be cured into good forage at that stage or
even somewhat later. The roots remain alive
for years in Marion county and continuous
cuttings can be had, except during two or
three winter months. These fields need fer
tilizing to keep up the yields. Napier grass
); is used for silage by some growers and
makes fair grade. Yields of green cut
Napier grass of so tons per acre in single
: season are reported.
Sorghums. Almost any variety of sweet
and of non-saccharine sorghum will yield
TaH hn Mo-, 49,,
The yield will depend upon the quality of
, soil and moisture conditions.
These crops should be planted at such a
time as that they will begin maturing the
seed after the rainy season of July and Au-
gust, else the seed heads will mould. They
make excellent dry forage if well cured in
shocks. They are very frequently planted
t in combination with field peas and in the
thick growth that results finer quality OF
stem is made. Sorghums are also used fol-
silage, a combination of the red head sweet
r sorghum and kafir making an excellent
5 quality of feed. Yields of 25 tons per acre
e are not unusual. Sweet sorghums are also
used for the manufacture of table syrups
with a peculiarly pleasing flavor or tang
q The matured heads of all varieties made ex
/ cellent poultry feed. The hens get some
e pleasant exercise in picking out the grains
. Mature sorghum and kaffir corn are usec
= by some farmers as Solllng crops. In few
cases work stock Is fed solely the cut sor
0 ghum and kaffir during late summer anC
|. fall.
d Feterita and Teosinte are grown to onl!
e a very limited extent, and while they d.
d we'll and make excellent yields of fine fee,
: no accurate records have been obtainable a.
to just how profitable they are. On mucl
b land this season 1921) an enormous guam
d tity per acre of Teosinte was observed
n Cat Tail Millet. This crop. is not usual,
t planted for hay, but is cut as green soilin,
crop before it begins to head out to max
o seed. However, good quality and yer,
f | large tonnage per acre of hay can be pro
t, duced here. 1t is an annual and will keel
g sending up LEAKAGE and shoots during tn
o whole season provided the moisture is suffi
: lcIent, and it is on a fertile soil, or fertilit,
It IS supplied: 1t is palatable and nutritious
Dairy cattle especially like the green Gu
e millet, and produce richly colored milk OF
l. it. One dairyman near Ocala planted it il
IS September for late fall green forage
e miscellaneous grasses in varying comb
? nations and proportions make fair cutting
g without any seeding following such crops a
re lmelons, cantaloupes, tomatoes, beans, etc
The yields depend upon the moisture. Il
d these fields peas are sometimes seeded a
a the last cultivation of the crops and the,
e. Iadd materially to the yield and quality
: About three-quarters of a bushel of seed pc
II acre are sown. In these mixtures may b
a found crab grass, beggarweeds, sardspu
Igrass, crow foot and Natal.
VI PASTURES
al Very little attention has been given to tn
p. Improvement of pastures in most parts o
J. the South. Marion county has been no ex
y Iception to this rule. In the past the ope
n oranges have been the pastures, and most o