262 GRASSES AND HOW TO GROW THEM. 



from June or July onward until autumn. In a few 

 weeks after a grain crop is cut, it furnishes fine pasture, 

 coining in at a season when in its absence it would fre- 

 quently be necessary to resort to soiling crops. But it 

 will riot provide grazing in winter. 



In the "Farmers Book of Grasses," Dr. D. L. Phares, 

 the author, gives an interesting experience in growing 

 this grass for hay in alternation with Burr clover (Med- 

 icago maculata), grown to provide winter and spring 

 grazing. The clover was sown on prepared land in the 

 autumn and'grazed from December to. April. The clov- 

 er then matured enough of seed to provide another crop 

 before the plants died in May. They had no sooner dis- 

 appeared than the crab grass sprang up thickly and was 

 mowed in July or August and again in October. The 

 yield of the crab grass was 2^ to 3 tons per acre from the 

 two cuttings. The second cutting was much lighter 

 than the first, but of finer quality. The clover would 

 then spring up again and furnish grazing for the winter 

 to be followed in turn by the crab grass. This was con- 

 tinued for several years without diminution in the 

 yields of the clover or the crab grass. The clover was 

 apparently able to keep the soil supplied with a suf- 

 ficiency of nitrogen. 



Harvesting for Hay. Crab grass hay is harvested 

 like other hay. It should be cut when the flowers are 

 formed. It cures readily and quickly in good weather, 

 but takes great injury from rain or even from heavy 

 dews. In showery weather the cocks should if possi- 

 ble be protected by caps, and when stacked .they should 

 be topped out with other grass that turns the rain bet- 



