TWO PROMINENT SOUTHERN GRASSES 



129 



(A plat of Bermuda grass in the grass-garden at Wash- 

 ington, D. C., is shown in Fig. 26.) 



There is probably no other grass that bears pastur- 

 ing better, or yields more herbage in the form of pas- 

 ture, than Bermuda grass in sections where it is at its 

 best. Unlike its counterpart in the North, it does not 

 become dormant during the summer, but continues 



FIG. 26 PLAT OF BERMUDA GRASS IN GRASS-GARDEN AT 

 WASHINGTON, D. C. 



its vigorous growth during the hottest weather. It 

 also withstands drouth to a marked degree, but is not 

 equal to the exceedingly dry climate of western Texas, 

 New Mexico, Arizona, and southern California unless 

 irrigated. Yet it remains green during protracted 

 summer drouths of central Texas and States to fhe 

 eastward. The quality of its herbage is probably 

 not quite equal to that of blue-grass. Stock-raising is 

 not yet sufficiently developed in the Bermuda grass 

 region to justify a final judgment on this point. The 

 best Bermuda pastures easily support two head of cat- 

 tle per acre from April till late in October ; not infre- 

 quently three head per acre are grazed on it during 



