GRASSES IN ALABAMA 353 



following replies seem to have so much interest and 

 merit that they weH deserve space herein, and I only 

 regret that it has been found necessary in some instances 

 to abbreviate them. 



ALABAMA. Prof. J. F. Duggar, Director of the Alabama Experi- 

 ment Station of Auburn : 



Bermuda Grass. This is more generally used than any other 

 grass as summer pasturage throughout the cottonbelt. On the 

 whole it is the most valauble pasturage plant of the South. It can 

 be propagated with greatest certainty by the use of rootstocks 

 dropped in checks 2x3 feet and at any time from February to 

 June. It can also be propagated by seed, but the germination of the 

 seed is sometimes poor and there is also danger of the stand being 

 poor by reason of rain and baking sun soon after the date of plant- 

 ing. There may well be combined with Bermuda, lespedeza for sum- 

 mer pasturage, and bur clover for winter pasturage. 



Carpet Grass. Carpet grass is probably next to Bermuda in 

 value as a summer pasturage grass for the region to which it is 

 adapted, namely, the southern half of the cottonbelt. It is most 

 useful on low or damp sandy areas and is especially resistent-to 

 an acid or water-logged condition of the soil. It is of slight 

 value on the dry hills. It is superior to Bermuda on the low- 

 lands, to \vhich it is adapted, its superiority consisting in remain- 

 ing green later in the fall or winter and the greater ease with 

 which, when desired, it can be eradicated. Propagation is most 

 certain by means of portions of the old plants. This plant seeds 

 poorly but is sometimes spread by cutting the seed stems for hay 

 and spreading this over the land to be seeded. 



Orchard Grass. This is of limited suitability and is only avail- 

 able for soils naturally fertile and well-drained or else soils that 

 have been improved by rotation of crops and good farming. It is 

 of more value in the Northern than in the Southern half of the 

 cottonbelt, but even in that region it is not of universal adapta- 

 bility. Its chief value of course is for pasturage, for which pur- 

 pose it may well be combined with lespedeza or with other 

 clovers and grasses. 



Red Top Grass. This is suited to the moist lowlands through- 

 out the greater part of the cottonbelt when the purpose is pas- 



