BERMUDA GRASS. 115 



parently dead from drought it will quickly revive when 

 moisture comes. It will also withstand inundations 

 better probably than any other valuable grass grown in 

 the south. But it does not succeed well in the shade, 

 hence it is not well adapted for being grown in groves 

 and while it is becoming "set" it must be protected 

 against brome grass and briers. It will not grow in cold 

 or even cool weather, nor can it live in a soil deeply 

 penetrated by frost. Under favorable conditions it cov- 

 ers the soil so densely as to exercise a salutary and con- 

 siderable influence on the retention of moisture, and it 

 is also favorable to the action of earthworms, so helpful 

 to soil improvement. 



This grass is beyond question the most valuable pas- 

 ture grass in the south. It will furnish grazing on soils 

 too poor to grow cultivated crops, will furnish more 

 and better grazing than any other southern grass and 

 will also stand closer grazing and more tramping under 

 all conditions than any other. All kinds of live stock 

 kept upon the southern farm are fond of it, at all stages 

 of development until smitten by frost. It also makes 

 excellent and valuable hay, more palatable and nutri- 

 tious than that made from blue grass. 



Bermuda grass also renders excellent service in pre- 

 venting erosion in soils and in binding the same. It 

 will hold together the most arid and loose sands when 

 once set in them. It has no superior in forming a sod 

 on ditch banks and ravines. It is specially helpful in 

 filling up gullies little by little, since it grows up 

 through the deposit of soil which it arrests from water 

 passing through it. It aids in holding up steep banks 



