12 MISC. PUBLICATION 194, U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 



Guinea grass (Panicum maximum) is a large, coarse bunch grass 

 which is ver}^ drought resistant and one of the most dependable 

 pasture grasses of the West Indies. It should be valuable in southern 

 Texas where Rhodes grass has succeeded. 



Johnson grass is best known as a pest in cultivated fields, but is 

 also found in pure stands, where it is utilized as a hay crop and to a 

 lesser extent as pasture. When grazed closely and continuously it 

 gradually becomes unproductive and is not very desirable in pastures. 



Molasses grass (Melinis minutijiora) is one of the most productive 

 pasture grasses in Brazil and Colombia, South America, where it is 

 known as Gordura. It has fine stems and makes a very dense leafy 

 growth about 2 feet deep over the ground. The leaves and stems 

 exude a sticky sweetish fluid which gives the grass an odor. Cattle 

 dislike the grass at first, but later appear to relish it and thrive on it. 

 It can be grown only in practically frost-free localities, such as the 

 southern half of Florida. 



Natal grass (Tricholaena rosea), introduced from South Africa, has 

 become naturalized in southern Florida and has spread to citrus groves 

 and uncultivated land including the roadsides. It is well adapted 

 to the climate and the sandy soil of this part of Florida, but as it is 

 unpalatable to livestock, it is of httle value as pasturage. 



Orchard grass unless closely grazed is not so palatable as several of 

 the well-known grasses, but contributes materially to pasturage be- 

 cause it endures shade better than most grasses and is more productive 

 on soils of low or moderate fertility. It begins growth early in the 

 spring, and the excess growth in the fall provides considerable winter 

 grazing. In the central latitudes where Korean lespedeza is adapted 

 a combination of orchard grass and Korean lespedeza is an ideal mix- 

 ture for rotation pasture or hay. In the Northeastern States (section 

 1-a) orchard grass-ladino clover mixture is showing much promise for 

 pasture, hay or silage. 



Para grass has long trailing stems and grows rapidly under favorable 

 conditions. It is very sensitive to low tempertures and is of most 

 value on wet lands. It is propagated vegetatively. 



Quackgrass or couch grass {Agropyron repens) is common in section 

 1-a, where it occurs as a persistent weed in cultivated and abandoned 

 fields. It is difficult to eradicate because of its rootstocks, but it 

 may be grazed and is both palatable and nutritious. 



Red fescue (Festuca rubra) is a fine-leaved, persistent, turf -forming 

 grass which is a poor pasture grass as it is unpalatable to cattle. 

 It grows best in the shade and is valuable in lawn mixtures. 



Redtop is not relished by livestock, but is generally included in 

 pasture mixtures because it grows on poorly drained acid soils. 



Rescue or arctic grass is a winter annual wliich often reseeds 

 naturally in southern Texas. It appears usually at the end of the 

 dry summer and provides grazing after Bermuda grass becomes 

 dormant. 



Rhodes grass has been tested in most parts of region 2 and sections 

 3-b and 4-b but has achieved importance only in southern Texas, 

 where a drought-resistant plant is required. It will grow on moder- 

 ately alkali soils but is less palatable under such conditions. Domestic 

 seed production has reduced the cost of seed. 



