BERMUDA-GRASS 331 



necessity of a thorough preparation of the soil, 

 pastures and meadows are more often started 

 from cuttings. To prepare cuttings, the sod is 

 gathered and cut into small pieces with a feed 

 cutter or other similar machine, or a wooden 

 block and hatchet can be used if only a small 

 quantity is needed. Since most of the propa- 

 gating stems are near the surface, it is necessary 

 to shave off a layer of sod only an inch or two 

 thick. If cuttings are wanted in large quantities, 

 the sod can be plowed and the roots harrowed 

 into windrows or piles. In all cases care should 

 be taken not to allow the roots to get dry. The 

 cuttings may be planted at any time of the year 

 in the South, except the coldest winter months, 

 but the work is usually done in March. If a 

 meadow is desired, more care should be taken 

 in the planting of the cuttings to insure a level 

 surface for the mowing machine. The cuttings 

 are planted by dropping them at intervals of a 

 foot or two in shallow furrows, and covering with 

 the next round of the plow. This can be done 

 when the field is plowed, the cuttings being 

 dropped every other round or every third round. 

 Or the field can be prepared first and the cut- 

 tings dropped upon the surface and pressed in 

 with the foot as they are planted. For meadows 

 it is best to go over the land with a roller after 

 planting. For pastures, when a smooth surface 



