120 GRASSES AND HOW TO GROW THEM. 



ble also for planting Bermuda grass, but such prepara- 

 tion should be made early in the season. 



When the crop is planted on rough land possessed 

 with sassafras and broom sage, the only preparation 

 given is to remove these for a time by cutting and this 

 may be absoluteh' necessary even when judicious grazing 

 is possible. The same is also true of stony and rough 

 land. Poor land that has been gullied is prepared by 

 ploughing, which should be deep rather than shallow, 

 by filling the gullies with the scraper and applying a thin 

 coating of farmyard manure when the top soil has been 

 removed before planting the grass. 



Sowing or Planting. — As the seed of Bermuda grass 

 is low in germijiating power and as the price is high, 

 running all the way from, say 50 cents to $1.00 per 

 ]^X)und, it is not much sown in the United States. It is 

 not only low in germinating power, but the young 

 plants from the seed grow so slowly that they are 

 much liable to injury from the crowding of weeds, 

 unless well cared for. The plan, therefore, of plant- 

 ing portions of the roots has come to be generally 

 adopted. 



Nevertheless it maj' be advisable to sow seed on a 

 limited area, in order to get a stand of plants to be 

 used as cuttings in laying down pastures. It should be 

 sowed only on clean and good land and while the same is 

 moist. It is recommended to sow the seed broadcast and 

 to cover it with a rake. A pound of seed sliould sow 

 one-fifth to one-third of an acre. Weeds must be kept 

 away from the young plants until they attain some con- 

 siderable size. The method of sowing the seed in drills 



