BERMUDA GRASS. 7 



VARIETIES. 



Bermuda grass is valued principally- for two purposes for the pro- 

 duction of hay and pasture and for use on lawns. For hay and pas- 

 ture the best variety is that which makes the strongest growth, while 

 for lawns the most satisfactory is one which is dwarf in growth and 

 covers the ground with a dense mat of turf. For use in the northern 

 parts of the Bermuda-grass region the variety planted for any purpose 

 should be one which is not killed by ordinary freezes, while the 

 ability to resist cold needs less, consideration farther south. The 

 variety to be planted should be selected to suit the purpose and 

 locality for which it is wanted. 



The soil on which Bermuda grass is grown and the treatment 

 which it receives cause great variations in its growth. Plants which 

 may make a rank, erect growth, a foot or more in height and with 

 long leaves, when grown on a rich and moist soil may make only a 

 flat and spreading growth, with stems only 2 or 3 niches high and 

 with very short leaves , when transplanted to a hard clay soil. There 

 are, however, a few varieties which are quite distinct from others 

 wherever they may be planted. 



The most common variety, the one which is hi almost universal 

 use wherever Bermuda grass is grown, produces stems only about a 

 foot or less hi height, though varying greatly. It produces abundant 

 rootstocks, which often run several inches below the surface of the 

 ground, and also makes surface runners, which may be from a few 

 niches to several feet hi length. 



The most rank-growing sort yet found is Giant Bermuda grass, 1 

 introduced from Brazil a few years ago. On a rich and moist soil 

 it often makes runners 20 feet or more hi length, with an abundance 

 of erect stems 2 feet or more in height, affording two or three annual 

 cuttings and yielding more than any other variety yet tested. It 

 rarely produces seed heads and has few or no underground root- 

 stocks . Another form from southern Florida is very similar in growth, 

 but has shorter runners and produces seed heads very abundantly. 

 While both these varieties make heavy yields for hay and grazing, 

 they are too coarse for use on a lawn. St. Lucie grass is another 

 variety, with no underground rootstocks. This variety is rather dwarf 

 hi growth, seldom more than 6 inches hi height, with slender stems 

 and small leaves. It is one of the best sorts for lawns and dooryards. 

 It is common in Florida and is not hardy as far north as middle 

 Georgia. Its growth. is too dwarf to make it profitable for hay, but it 

 recovers quickly after frosts and so is valuable for pastures and lawns. 



Many other varieties may be separated from the common Bermuda 

 grass of the fields, the most important differences being in rankness 



1 Cynodon dactylon var. maritimus. 



