BERMUDA GRASS. 121 



would doubtless be preferable. It would call for less 

 seed and would make it practicable to keep the land 

 clear Avith considerably less labor. Lawns may be thus 

 seeded where Bermuda cuttings or sods cannot be ob- 

 tained. 



The following are chief among the methods com- 

 monly adopted in planting the grass : 



1. Portions of sod are obtained and are cut into 

 pieces about 2 inches square with a sharp spade or corn 

 knife. Shallow furrows are made both ways in well 

 prepared land and the pieces of sod carried in baskets 

 or otherwise are placed in the intersections of these. 

 The top side of the sod is kept upward. Sometimes 

 the earth is adjusted to the pieces with a hoe or they 

 are covered lightly with the plough, the land then being 

 smoothed with the harrow. 



2. In the fall while breaking the land with a turning 

 plough, drop small pieces of sod in every third furrow 

 behind the plough 1 to 2 feet distant, the next furrow 

 slice being made to cover these. Then sow rye on the 

 land and in the spring graze down by cattle to aid in 

 removing the shade from the crop and to firm the land. 

 Horses and sheep should not be thus grazed while the 

 grass is setting, as they bite off many of the creeping 

 stems and thus interfere with the spread of the grass. 



3. In light furrows made between the rows of corn 

 when ready to be laid by, drop small pieces of the sod 

 1 to 2 feet apart and cover with a small harrow or 

 plank leveller, such as may be run between the rows of 

 corn. 



4. The plants are dug up and shaken free from earth 



