Florida Agricultural Experiment Station 187 



many localities good grazing may be had from it at all times of 

 the year. It is especially valuable in this section during the 

 winter when it affords an abundance of succulent grazing. 

 Other grasses, such as Para and Carib are more affected by 

 the dry and cool weather- 

 In Queensland, according to the Agricultural Gazette of New 

 South Wales, for April, 1911, as much as five and one-third 

 tons of hay per acre have been produced in a year. 



According to the Annual Report of the Arizona Experiment 

 Station, it has been tested there for six years and there passed 

 a temperature of 17 to 20 F. without injury, but it is not 

 recommended as an arid region grass. Under irrigation it 

 produced one and a half tons of hay at each of two annual 

 cuttings. 



REGIONS IN WHICH TO TRY RHODES GRASS 



It should be tested by all farmers of Florida in an experi- 

 mental way. It has been generally successful in the region 

 from Gainesville southward. Those farmers who are in a 

 position to do so should try it on a one to five acre extent. In 

 the region from Gainesville northward and westward it would 

 be advisable to try it on a smaller scale. In a general way, in 

 those places where the winter temperature does not go below 

 23 or 22 F., this grass may be sown with a fair prospect of 

 not having the roots winter-killed. 



TIME OF SOWING 



In Central and South Florida it would seem advisable to sow 

 during October and November, or during February, March or 

 April. The seed is very small and consequently the seedlings 

 are weak. It germinates quickly under favorable conditions. 

 Under perfect conditions we found that seed sown on April 12 

 was coming up on the 15th, and on the 28th the seedlings were 

 large enough to transplant to the test plot. A sowing in the 

 test plot made on March 15, 1912, gave grass four feet tall by 

 June 25, and was ready for the first cutting approximately one 

 hundred days from time of seeding. The following year, 1913, 

 the grass on these plots was ready for making into hay on 

 May 1. 



If the soil is in first class condition, seed sown in October or 

 November will become well established before winter and give 

 early spring pasturage, or an early crop of hay. 



