BERMUDA GRASS. 17 



TABLE I. Chemical analyses of Bermuda grass, timothy, and Kentucky bluegrass. 



From the above it will be seen that Bermuda grass contains 2.31 

 per cent more protein than timothy and 1 .39 per cent less than blue- 

 grass, as well as more starch and less fiber than either. 



In American literature only a single digestion test with Bermuda 

 hay is recorded, so there is need for further work along this line to 

 determine its feeding value more definitely. A comparison of the 

 digestibility of Bermuda hay, as shown by Bulletin No. 90 of the 

 Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station, giving the results of 

 tests with sheep, and the digestibility of timothy and bluegrass, as 

 shown by various publications of the Department of Agriculture and 

 several of the agricultural experiment stations, is given in Table II. 



TABLE II. Comparative digestibility of Bermuda grass, timothy, and Kentucky blue- 

 grass. 



1 The analysis of the hay used in the work of the Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station was as fol- 

 lows (percent): "Water. 7.87; ash. 7.44; protein, 10.81; fiber. 28.87; nitrogen-free extract, starch, etc., 43.58; 

 fat, 1.42. 



While these figures indicate the possible feeding value of Bermuda 

 grass, its actual value can be determined only by repeated feeding 

 tests with different annuals. In making such tests the feeder must 

 take into consideration the soil on which the grass was grown, the 

 character of the season, and the age at which the grass was cut, as 

 each of these conditions will influence both the composition and the 

 digestibility of the hay. 



Timothy was one of the first hay grasses to be grown in this 

 country and by its wide cultivation and extensive use has become 

 the standard by which other grass hays are judged. For this reason 

 many buyers suppose timothy to be the best in quality. Southern 

 feeders, however, are beginning to recognize the value of Bermuda 

 grass. In all the regions where this grass can be grown well a dol- 

 lar's worth of it will furnish more feed than a dollar's worth of 

 timothy. It is therefore the cheaper hay for use in the South. 



