GRASSES, GRAINS, AND PLANTS. 565 



quality, those who have desired to cultivate it on a large scale 

 have seldom been able to do so. It is generally used as a lawn 

 grass, and to hold levees or railroad embankments, and for 

 small pastures. In some localities, however, it has spread over 

 a considerable extent of territory. Its natural- extension into 

 new territory has been slow, owing to the partial or entire 

 absence of seed, but it spreads rapidly by its rooting-stems 

 when introduced. It is usually propagated artificially by means 

 of the sets or rooting-stems. These are sometimes chopped up 

 with a cutting-knife, sown broadcast, and plowed under not very 

 deeply ; sometimes they are dropped a foot or two apart in 

 shallow furrows, and covered by a plow ; sometimes pieces of 

 the sod are planted two feet apart each way. By any of these 

 means a continuous sod is obtained in a few months, if the soil 

 is good and well prepared. 



The chief value of Bermuda grass is for summer pasture. It 

 grows best in the hottest weather, and ordinary droughts affect 

 it but little. The tops are easily killed by frosts, but the roots 

 are quite hardy throughout the Southern States. It is grown 

 to some extent as far north as Virginia, but in that latitude it 

 possesses little advantage over other grasses. In Tennessee, 

 according to Professor Killebrew, its chief value is for pasture, 

 there being other grasses there of more value for hay. Farther 

 south, however, it is highly prized for hay. To make the largest 

 quantity, and best quality, it should be mowed several times 

 during the season. The yield varies greatly according to soil, 

 being generally reported at from a ton and a half to two tons 

 per acre. Much larger yields have been reported, however, in 

 specially favorable localities, where several cuttings were made. 



Bermuda grass is more easily eradicated from sandy land than 

 from clay, and on such land may be more safely introduced into 

 a rotation. To kill it out, it should be rooted up or plowed very 

 shallowly some time in December, and cultivated or harrowed 

 occasionally during the winter. If severe freezes occur, most 

 of it will be killed by spring ; or it may be turned under deeply 

 in spring, and the land cultivated in some hoed crop, or one 

 which will heavily shade the ground. 



Setaria Italica (Hungarian Grass; German Millet). This 

 grass is supposed to be a native of the East Indies, but it has 



