A PASTURE HANDBOOK 11 



Tall oatgrass is valued for early spring grazing. It is useful only 

 in mixed seedings, and is best adapted in sections 5-a and 1-b. 



SOXJTHEKN PASTURE GRASSES 



The southern grasses that contribute most to pastures are Bermuda, 

 carpet, and Dallis grasses. Those less commonly found in pastures 

 are Johnson, Rhodes, Napier, rescue, and Vasey grasses. Para, Bahia, 

 Guinea, and molasses grasses are hardy only in the subtropical belt 

 along the Gulf coast, indicated on the map as section 2-b. They can 

 also be grown on irrigated lands along the Mexican border in sections 

 3-b and 4-b. 



Bahia grass is most promising for poor sandy soils. Formerly its 

 extended use was limited to the subtropical regions. More cold- 

 resistant strains have been found and are being increased to extend 

 the range. 



Bermuda grass has spread naturally on loam, clay, and silt soils 

 over most of the Cotton Belt. Growth starts late in the spring and 

 ceases at the first frost in the fall. In the irrigated sections of 4-b 

 and 5-b Bermuda grass produces ^dable seed and spreads as a nuisance 

 into cultivated fields. In region 2 it is propagated mostly by planting 

 pieces of sod. 



Carpet grass is persistent and aggressive on moist sandy soils and 

 often appears spontaneously in region 2 when the land has been 

 cleared and grazed hea\41y. It endures close grazing very well, but 

 is not very productive, is only fairly nutritious, and makes such a 

 close turf that it is very difficult to keep legumes in it. 



Centipede grass, a rather recent introduction from China, is much 

 like carpet grass in its tendency to form a very compact turf, which 

 gradually excludes other grasses and legumes. It is low in produc- 

 tivity and nutritive qualities. Centipede grass will grow on soils of 

 most types but does best on sandy soils. Because it is propagated by 

 scattering pieces of sod or stolons, it is rather expensive to establish. 

 It is not generally recommended for pasture but offers promise for 

 lawns or turfs on droughty soils of low fertility. 



Colonial (Rhode Island) bentgrass and creeping bentgrass are found 

 in many pastures in the New England States, and a form of creeping 

 bent known as "seaside" bent is abundant on moist soils in section 

 5-a. These are all more valuable in lawns than in pastures. 



Crested wheatgrass is used extensively for regrassing land in the 

 northern Great Plains that has been put in cultivation. It furnishes 

 pastures in early spring and late fall thus making an ideal plant to 

 supplement the forage on native range lands. 



Dallis grass, a long-lived perennial, while less abundant than carpet 

 and Bermuda grass, is becoming increasingly important as a grazing 

 plant in region 2. It is a bunch grass, and the turf is more open than 

 that of the other two. The growth of basal leaves is luxuriant, and 

 Dalhs-grass pastures are both productive and nutritious. A good 

 stand is difficult to obtain. The presence of a fungus (Clanceps 

 paspali) in the seed heads, which if eaten in any quantity by cattle 

 causes a disease, characterized by nervous symptoms (p. 64), may 

 be controlled b}^ preventing seed head formation b}^ heavy grazing 

 or mowing. It is best adapted to clay, loam, and silt soils. 



