128 GRASSES AND HOW TO GROW THEM. 



fortunate for sontliern agricnhure that the plants do 

 not bear sood freely. 



Renewing. — llermuda grass, like quack grass, be- 

 comes sod bound after a few seasons of pasturing or 

 mowing, hence where practicable it is recommended to 

 break it up by ploughing and smoothing the ground 

 quite soon tlic'reafter with the harrow ; ploughing it thus 

 loosens and arrales the soil, breaks up the matted roots 

 and brings new life to the plants. The frequency with 

 which this ought to be done, the best season for doing it, 

 and the exact mode of doing the work will depend upon 

 conditions such as relate to climate, soil and the dense- 

 iicss of the sod. Usually it is recommended thus to 

 break Uf) the sod with the plough every 4 or 5 years. 

 Xorthward the work should not be undertaken just on 

 the approach of winter, lest too many of the plants 

 should perish. Far south it miiiht be desirable to have 

 many of them perish to thin thom. The depth of the 

 ploughing should be gauged 1iy I he character of the soil, 

 but it ought always to be as deep as experience has 

 demonstrated that it can be dmie with safety to the 

 plants. The more dense tlie sod, the less the danger of 

 destroying too many of the plants by deep ploughing 

 and harsh treatment. 



But C'\cu under conditions where Bermuda grass 

 cannot be thus dealt with, it will continue to produce 

 well for many years, as has lircn demonstrated on free 

 grazing lands in pro.xiinity to the cities. 



The i-eiK'wal of tliis i;r;iss is somelimes effected by 

 ploughing the land in Sejitember oi' October and sow- 

 ing it witJi red clover, winler nnls or tlie sand vetch 



