PITTING SOIL FOR BERMUDA 121 



as Kentucky bluegrass, English bluegrass or meadow fescue, and 

 Bromus inermis or brome grass; after making these tests we are 

 also firmly convinced that Bermuda grass has a wide range of 

 profitable culture in the new state. In making field trials with the 

 grasses which have been mentioned, it should be observed that 

 some success might attend the efforts of the husbandman if these 

 grasses were grown on very fertile soil, as the rich alluvial river 

 and creek bottom lands of the state ; but we must remark that 

 such areas are ideal for the culture of alfalfa, and, wherever this 

 forage plant can be grown, it should be given the preference. The 

 common grasses do not return more than two cuttings per season 

 at best, and the yield per acre would not exceed 2 or 2 l / 2 tons; 

 alfalfa, on the other hand, makes at least five crops per season, and 

 will bring all the way from 5 to 7 tons per acre on such land. The 

 lesson which ought to be drawn from this discussion may be stated 

 briefly: Use the best land on the farm for alfalfa; the poorer sec- 

 tions can be set aside for the growth of Bermuda grass. 



"In rolling sections large ditches or gullies are frequently 

 washed out by the roadsides, and if no attempt is made to check 

 this erosion the road bed itself may be cut to such an extent that 

 it will be impossible to haul heavy loads over that portion. Ber- 

 muda grass may be used to check such washes. It may also be 

 planted on very rolling fields. We have many field illustrations in 

 this section which serve to show that continuous culture, whether 

 it be with corn or cotton, results in such a disfiguration of the sur- 

 face that many portions are finally discarded. Areas of this char- 

 acter should be devoted to pasture, and if planted to Bermuda, 

 the soil will remain intact. Bermuda grass furnishes an excellent 

 covering for pond banks, and it may also be planted in districts 

 where the sand has a tendency to drift or blow." 



Preparation of Soil. "Fields which are to be set to Bermuda 

 grass should receive almost as careful preparation as in cases 

 where the land is to be used for the production of corn or cotton. 

 Although this grass is a persistent and vigorous grower and thrives 

 fairly well, when planted on a poorly-prepared surface, it will 

 respond readily to good treatment. It can be grown on all types 

 or classes of soil, -from the sandy or open type down to the heavy 

 impervious clay soils. If the soil is open in structure and does not 

 have a tendency to bake, the plowing may be done two or three 

 weeks prior to planting; the heavier soils should be plowed early 



