GRASSES FOR PASTURES, MEADOWS, LAWNS 235 



Fiu. 101.^ 



< (lUTtesy Brttd'TS LjOZtlu 



' A Bermuda grass plant. 



(6) It makes a soft, tough sod, for which reason it is 

 often called the blue grass of the South. 



(c) It binds the soil together, thus preventing erosion 

 by wind and water. 



(d) It stands graz- 

 ing well — the closer 

 the better, in fact, on 

 rich land. 



(e) It succeeds on 

 poor soils, though it 

 responds quickly to 

 feeding with barnj'ard 

 manure. 



The principal ol)- 

 jections to the cultivation of Bermuda grass are: 



(o) The foliage is easily killed by frosts, while severe 

 freezing often kills the roots. 



Cb) It will not endure shade, and hence is of httle value 

 among trees or where tall weeds are allowed to grow. 



(c) It is difficult to eradicate when once it becomes 

 thoroughly established in a field. 



Millets and Sorghums 



In certain parts of the semiarid West and Southwest 

 where the perennial grasses do not succeed well, the annual 

 grasses are the chief source of forage. By cultivating the 

 land carefull}', the moisture is caught and retained in the 

 soil. Millet or sorghum is then drilled into the seed bed 

 with the result that the seeds germinate quickly and the 

 plants mature in favorable years before the driest part of 

 the season comes on. 



These crops are not among the so-called drouth resistant 

 ones, such as Kafir corn and milo maize. On account of 

 their early maturity, however, they are valuable in the 



