VELVET GRASS 325 



and later if desired for seed. It is usiially sown alone, 

 as when sown Avith better gi'asses it is likely to crowd 

 them, and it is also less relished by the stock as pasture 

 or hay. The seed being very light is sown by hand 

 and because of its lightness must be sown with care. 

 It may also be propagated by dividing the roots and 

 planting them, but this process is unnecessarily slow 

 and tedious. In the South it may be successfully sown 

 under some conditions at the last cultivation given to 

 corn, the sorghums or root crops. From 10 to 14 

 pounds of seed are usually sown per acre. 



Pasturing. — While, this grass is not considered a 

 good pasture grass, because of its low palatability, there 

 are localities in which it will not only be eaten by live 

 stock, but in which its presence is much preferable to 

 no grass. In the presence of better grasses the stock 

 will pass it by ungrazed. This allows the seed to 

 ripen and scatter before the winds which it does read- 

 ily because of its lightness. It is thus increased in 

 pastures. Under these conditions, the aim is to get 

 rid of it rather than to allow it to increase. 



Harvesting for Hay. — Like nearly all kinds oi grass, 

 velvet grass should be cut at the blossoming stage. 

 Under average conditions it comes into flower in June, 

 but in some locations in May. Its presence in good hay 

 is not desirable, for the same reason that it is not de- 

 sirable in pastures, but under some conditions it can 

 be grown where hay cannot be made from grasses of 

 superior quality. In these it is much better than no 

 hay. Fertilizing mixed pastures or meadows, in which 

 this grass is growing, tends to increase its growth, the 



