BERMUDA GRASS. 123 



stances cultivation is given to the land for a time be- 

 tween the rows of Bermuda sets with a view to clean the 

 same. In other instances pasturing with cattle has the 

 same object in view, and in yet other instances the crab 

 grass which grows on the land is cut for hay. 



A real difficulty is frequently experienced in trying to 

 get Bermuda grass to grow on shifting sands, from the 

 very fact that they do shift. About all that can be 

 done probably to prevent this, is to plant the grass at 

 those seasons when growth is possible and when high 

 winds are less likely to prevail. 



Pasturing. Bermuda grass is unquestionably the 

 best pasture grass in the south, viewed from the stand- 

 point of palatability, productiveness and endurance. 

 There are reasons for believing that in its proper sphere 

 it will produce more grazing and more meat than blue 

 grass under the most favored conditions. When well set 

 on good land, it has maintained a mature cattle beast 

 to each acre and produced more than 200 pounds of 

 beef during six months of grazing. Sheep can graze 

 upon it from 7 to 9 months in the year according to the 

 locality. One explanation of its ability to produce 

 these results is found in its power to grow right through 

 the summer months. The first frosts, however, injure it 

 for grazing, since they turn the leaves brown, and se- 

 vere frosts northward from the Gulf of Mexico take 

 the succulence out of the stems and leaves. Further 

 south the stems remain green all winter and so may be 

 made to furnish grazing, but the propriety of grazing 

 closely at that season is somewhat doubtful, lest the 

 roots should become too much exposed to the frost. The 



