310 GRASSES AND HOW TO GROW THEM. 



Eescue grass is an annual, but if eaten closely it 

 will live for a longer period than one year, in some 

 instances for 2 or 3 years. It is essentially a winter 

 grass and should usually be sown for the purpose of 

 providing winter pasture. Although it does not grow 

 rapidly at first, it does later, hence, in the far South, 

 it may be made to furnish grazing in January and 

 February, and later may produce a crop of hay. It 

 matures in March and April in Texas. It furnishes 

 good grazing and good hay, but if allowed to go to 

 seed the seeds will germinate later and appear in the 

 next crop. 



Distribution. — ^Rescue grass is said to be a native 

 of South America. It has been grown to some extent 

 in all the states of the South, but has been grown to 

 a greater extent in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama 

 and Georgia than in the other states. It will endure 

 the cold of winter in latitudes considerably higher, but 

 there would seem to be no good reasons for growing 

 the plant where it will not provide grazing in winter. 



Soil. — This grass will gTow best of course in rich 

 strong soils, but it will grow, though more feebly, in 

 poor and thin soils. If grown on the latter, it should 

 be stimulated by liberal fertilizing. 



Place in the Rotation. — Eescue grass being essen- 

 tially an annual and a winter grass may come any- 

 where in the rotation, whether it be a long or a short 

 one. When winter grazing is much desired, it may 

 be grown from year to year, alternating with cow peas. 

 The latter fertilizes the soil for the rescue grass and, 

 if ploughed under, will furnish a supply of hiunus. 



