256 GRASSES AND HOW TO GROW THEM. 



tings is ready at intervals of 4 to 6 weeks from the time 

 of the cutting immediately preceding. The yield from 

 each cutting is from 1 to 3 tons according to the rich- 

 ness of the land. Further north from 2 to 3 cuttings 

 only can be obtained, because of the shorter season for 

 growth. As many as 15 tons have been grown per year, 

 but under conditions that were most favorable to its 

 growth, and when the same has been further stimulated 

 by suitable fertilizers. The average ^yields, however, 

 will probably not exceed 4 to 5 tons per acre per season. 



Fertilizers may be applied early in the season or be- 

 tween the cuttings as prudence may dictate. The kind of 

 fertilizer will of course depend on the land, but nitrog- 

 enous fertilizers are usually most helpful to the growth 

 of this grass. One hundred pounds of gypsum per acre 

 and a similar amount of complete fertilizer applied be- 

 fore or after the first cutting have given good results. 

 Of course where this grass is to be cut from year to 

 year indefinitely, the question of proper fertilization 

 becomes one of the very first in importance. 



In some sections of the South, more especially in the 

 Gulf States, some growers have hirge areas laid down 

 to this grass. They bale the hay. For this hay there 

 is a good demand in the South, and large profits are 

 made in some instances from growing it. Notwithstand- 

 ing the coarseness of the hay, it is quite palatable, hav- 

 ing in it a considerable quantity of saccharine content. 



Securing Seed. — This grass seeds freely, but under 

 some conditions and in some seasons, the seed does iml, 

 lill out well. A good crop of seed would be about 9 

 bushels r>er acre. The first cutting of the grass for the 



