QUERIES AND ANSWERS. 49 



turned to a biennial habit — for instance, as a Winter oat treated just like 

 wheat. 



275. Q. What is the nature of the dark rusty spots which are thickly melon Fungi. 

 appearing on my watermelons, both foliage and fruit? 



A, It is probably a fungus similar with that which spots bean 

 pods, and if so, is quite contagious. Young plants can be sprayed with 

 Bordeaux mixture, but it is difficult to arrest it even then, as the liquid 

 cannot be thoroughly applied to the under sides of the foliage. On a 

 strongly developed crop nothing can be done, as it is impossible to spray 

 the under parts of such a mass of foliage laying almost on the ground. 



276. Q. I want to try a good native Southern grass. What do you Texas 

 recommend ? Blue Grass. 



A. An American perennial grass not generally known but of admirable 

 character for Southern sections, is the Texas Blue grass {Poa araclmifera), 

 discovered on the prairies of that State in 1853. It blossoms there about 

 the last of March and ripens its seed about the middle of April. Its habit 

 in Southern States is much stronger than Kentucky Blue grass. In 

 Texas, under the severest droughts, it sometimes lags a little, but after 

 Autumn rains quickly springs into most vigorous growth and continues 

 to grow all Winter. It makes a strong top growth for hay and a matted 

 sod standing continued pasturing. It roots deeply and spreads rapidly 

 by buds from long, strong, underground stems, which by their vigor re- 

 sist the encroachment of Bermuda grass. Once established it will con- 

 tinue to stand for a lifetime. It is best propagated . by cuttings of the 

 roots, 20,000 set to the acre, or say one to each two square feet. Roots 

 cost about $1.00 per 1000, seed about $3.00 per pound, six pounds being 

 sown to the acre. 



277. Q. What is Bermuda grass? Bermuda 

 A. Botanically it is known as Cynodon dactylon and is a creeping per- Grass. 



€nnial, bearing long, leafless flower stalks, abundant but small foliage, 

 and producing a mat of under-ground stems and superficial runners. It 

 is not a native of Bermuda, but of Southern Europe. It is difficult to 

 grow it from seed. Consequently best propagated by roots — every root- 

 cutting of an inch will produce a plant. In the Southern States on good 

 land it is one of the best hay grasses. It is very difficult to eradicate and 

 often becomes a great nuisance. 



278. Q. What is Johnson grass ? Johnson 

 A. It is known as Sorghum holepense, a native of Africa. Its chief Grass. 



value is in regions where other grasses fail, but it must be cut young and 

 often to be of value. It is difficult to eradicate, close pasturing being a 

 means of killing it out. It should only be planted in waste places or 

 where wanted permanently. 



279. Q. What is Crab grass ? ^^^^ ^^^^^^ 

 A. Botanically Panicum sanguinale, a native of Europe, but now com- 

 mon in all the Southern States. It produces long, under-ground, hori- 

 zontal roots, often five and six feet long, rooting and branching at every 



