360 MEADOWS AND PASTURES 



Japanese sugar-cane. This is of course really a large grass, and 

 for heavy yield of green forage containing large amounts of carbo- 

 hydrates there is perhaps no crop that surpasses it. A yield of 

 25 to 30 tons per acre is not unusual. This is perhaps three times 

 the yield that one is able to secure from either corn or sorghum. 

 Japanese sugar-cane is a perennial. It does not produce its maxi- 

 mum yield until about the third or fourth year after planting. One 

 planting, with proper attention, will give satisfactory yields for 20 

 years or more. This in itself gives a considerable advantage over 

 annual forage crops. Japanese sugar-cane may be used as pasture, 

 as soiling crop, for silage or as dry forage (hay). It will give 

 the best result as pasture from about Nov. 15 to Feb. 15. However, 

 it will not stand pasturing in the spring after the young growth 

 has started. For soiling it will give better results if not cut until 

 the crop is fairly well matured. However, it can be fed at any 

 time between July and January. The largest quantity of silage or 

 dry forage will be obtained by harvesting during November or 

 early in December. These dates refer to north-central Florida. 

 When used as a dry forage the best results will be obtained if the 

 forage be run through a feed-cutter just before feeding. Pre- 

 pared and fed in this way there will be a minimum of refuse and 

 waste. When properly handled, hay made from Japanese sugar- 

 cane may be kept for six months, and still be relished by horses, 

 cattle and hogs. 



Bermuda Grass. This is a good summer pasture, is relished by 

 all kinds of stock and is nutritious. From its method of growth 

 Bermuda grass does not make a desirable hay crop except on good 

 rich soil or where it is heavily fertilized. Bermuda will be found 

 to be a satisfactory pasture grass on all classes of soil. However, 

 the sod should receive a liberal amount of fertilizer. Two or three 

 light applications of fertilizer during the year will produce better 

 results than one heavy application. It will be found advisable to go 

 over Bermuda grass with either a disk or spike-tooth harrow each 

 time the fertilizer is applied. This harrowing seems to put new 

 life into the grass, and results in an increased growth of nutritious 

 blades. 



LEGUMES. 



Velvet beans. Perhaps the velvet bean is the best legume for 

 Florida. It affords without doubt the best winter pasture that can 



