METHODS OF REESTABLISHING BUFFALO GRASS 17 



cover of buffalo grass, but such treatment had an injurious effect on 

 the blue grama. 



In 1929 certain plots transplanted with 4-inch cubes of buffalo 

 grass spaced 12 feet apart were kept clipped throughout the season 

 with a mowing machine for comparison with similar plots not clipped 

 or pastured. The undipped areas soon became covered with a rank 

 growth of weeds and taller grasses. The clipped grass spread three 

 times as far as the undipped in the same length of time. 



SWEETCLOVER AS A COMPANION CROP 



When properly grazed, sweetclover may be grown continuously 

 on areas being resodded with buffalo grass, thereby increasing the 

 total pasturage without seriously interfering with the spread of the 

 grass. The sweetclover will not properly reseed itself when severely 

 overgrazed and will retard the spread of the grass by shading if 

 allowed to make a rank growth. Continuous stands of sweetclover 

 have been maintained by natural reseeding on land transplanted with 

 6-inch squares of sod spaced 12 feet apart in 1929 and 1930. The 

 stands have been perpetuated for 5 years in the first instance and 

 4 years in the second and are still vigorous at the present time (1934). 



One of these areas, seeded to sweetclover in 1929, was pastured 

 moderately throughout the 5-year period. The total spread of the 

 buffalo grass was about one-half that of similar transplanting contain- 

 ing no sweetclover. Other sweetclover areas seeded in 1929 and 1930 

 were harvested for hay until 1933, when they were grazed intensively. 

 The growth of sweetclover was exceedingly heavy during the first 

 4 years, which severely retarded the spread of the grass. The 

 latter remained alive, but failed to spread very fast so long as the 

 sweetclover was providing a dense shade and competing heavily for 

 moisture, but when the sweetclover was short and after it was har- 

 vested the grass grew satisfactorily. The total spread on the areas 

 containing sweetclover harvested for hay was about one-third of that 

 on similar areas containing no sweetclover. On the areas that were 

 closely grazed in 1933 the buffalo grass appeared to recover from the 

 previous effects of shade and sent out runners as fast as those on the 

 nonsweetclover areas. 



GRADING AND TOP DRESSING 



The uneven surfaces caused by wind and water erosion or careless 

 transplanting may be leveled by grading and top dressing after the 

 grass has become fully established on lawns, golf courses, or football 

 fields where a smooth surface is desired. The high spots may be 

 scraped off with a sharp road grader and depressions eliminated by 

 periodic applications of a fine layer of soil, being careful not to cover 

 the leaves entirely. While these precautions are helpful in improving 

 the landscape value of buffalo grass, they are not necessary and may 

 be detrimental where it is desired to use the grass for pasture. In the 

 latter case a rough surface may assist in controlling run-off and con- 

 serving moisture. 



UTILIZATION 



Buffalo grass probably has served more useful purposes than any 

 other domestic grass in North America. The sod was used as building 



