202 THE ESSENTIALS OF AGRICULTURE 



258. Carpet grass. Carpet grass is to the light and sandy 

 soils what Bermuda grass is to the heavier and richer soils of 

 the South. It reaches its greatest perfection on the light soils 

 near the Gulf coast, but it is more or less common as far north 

 as central Georgia and northern Louisiana. It is strictly a pas- 

 ture grass, and will stand close grazing and heavy tramping 

 better than any other grass in the Gulf region. It makes little 

 growth after the first heavy frost, but it furnishes good winter 

 grazing if it is not pastured in midsummer. 



259. Johnson grass. Johnson grass gives a heavy yield of 

 fair hay and affords good pasturage for a few years. It is so diffi- 

 cult to dispose of when it is desired to plant the land to another 

 crop that its cultivation cannot be recommended. It is usually 

 regarded as a bad weed. 



260. Rhodes grass. Rhodes grass was recently introduced 

 from Central Africa, where it is regarded as one of the best 

 pasture grasses for dry soils. It is perennial, with long, round, 

 tender leaves, and is propagated both by seeds and by roots. 

 It promises well for the southern part of the Gulf states. 



261. Sudan grass. Sudan grass, another recent importation 

 from South Africa, gives much promise. It has a much wider 

 adaptation than the Rhodes grass, is an annual, and seems 

 especially adapted to regions of limited rainfall as far north as 

 central Kansas. 



QUESTIONS AND PROBLEMS 



1. What is the relation of the growth of grass to the development of 

 civilization ? 



2. What are the great pasture regions of the world? 



3. How does the hay crop compare in value with other crops? 



4. From what sources do we get our hay crop? 



5. How do pastures affect prices of animal products? 



6. What is the carrying capacity of the various kinds of pastures? 



7. How are grasses enabled to stand pasturing? 



8. How do grasses reproduce ? 



9. Compare the different grasses in relative importance. 



