356 MEADOWS AND PASTURES 



muda grass. It grows thickly and makes a very excellent turf, 

 tends to bind loose soil with a close turf as well as the heavier 

 soils. It is the favorite grass for lawns and parks. It also per- 

 petuates itself by seeding and by the underground system of root- 

 stalk. Its character of growth above the ground is that of many 

 fine stems and it does not as a rule grow very high, seldom reach- 

 ing more than 18" or 20" even on the best of land. It does not 

 start growing early nor grow very late because it is a hot-weather 

 grass. To sow for pasture or meadow purposes, but particularly 

 for pasture, it is necessary to seed other grasses or clovers with 

 it in combination. We have no other grass that will stand as 

 much drouth as the Bermuda. It is dreaded by many of our farm- 

 ers. Foundation for this fear is largely imaginary. We must ad- 

 mit, however, that it cannot be eradicated by wishing it to be gone. 

 Other grasses that are pretty well adapted to this state I will name 

 in this order : Orchard grass, tall meadow oatgrass, meadow fescue 

 and redtop and timothy. Clovers have not been given much of a 

 trial in this state. The clover, however, that has demonstrated that 

 it is a good one here is Japanese clover, which comes on of its 

 own accord, both on lowland and upland. Being a small clover it 

 is to be recommended for pasture rather than for meadow, but in 

 the bottom lands it makes very excellent hay in combination with 

 other natural grasses. Another clover, commonly termed yellow 

 clover (Medicago lupulina), is also coming in of its own accord 

 and demonstrating that it is adapted to our conditions. White 

 clover is also spreading of its own accord over the entire state. I 

 look on these three clovers as the. most promising and would recom- 

 mend that white clover and Japanese clover be sown in combin- 

 ation with Bermuda grass for permanent pasture and with John- 

 son grass also. The white clover will produce earlier pasture and 

 late pasture while the Japanese and Bermuda will hold out during 

 the hot weather season. Crimson and burr clovers thrive under 

 ideal conditions and seem to be well adapted to our climatic con- 

 ditions, though they are both annuals, and for that reason do not 

 persist as we should like to have them do, nor are they first-class 

 hay plants. Alsike and red clover grow with fair success, but as 

 yet we are in the experimental stage with most of the clovers, 

 and find that while they give first-class results in one locality they 

 may fail elsewhere. While alsike or red clover will thrive on the 

 poorest soil, alsike is especially adapted to fairly fertile low-lying 



