12 



MEMBEIRSOM^'S TESTED FARM SEI 



DROUGHTRESISTING GRASSES 



ADAPTED FOR 

 SOUTHERN 

 CLIMATES 



AWNLESS BROME GRASS 



(BROMUS INERMIS) 



A valuable Grass for light soils and dry situa 

 tions either in the North, South, East or West, 

 Good for both grazing or hay. 



This luxuriant drought-resisting, hardy 

 perennial grass, introduced into this 

 country by us in 1889, has proven 

 to be a most important and valu 

 able hay and pasture grass, thriv- 

 ing under the trying conditions 

 of the dry regions of the West 

 and Northwest. It is very 

 hardy, living through winters 

 where the temperature falls 

 many degrees below zero. 

 It roots deeply, grows rap- 

 idly, in good soils attain- 

 ing a height of 4 feet, 

 yielding up to 4 tons of 

 cured hay per acre. Even 

 on very poor, sandy land 

 it gives fair crops, having 

 yielded 1 to IH tons per 

 acre when Timothy was a 

 failure. As a permanent 

 pasture grass, especially for 

 dry sections, it is very valu- 

 able, starting into growth 

 very early in the spring, usu- 

 ally 3 to 4 weeks before other 

 grasses; it forms a tough, close 

 turf, stands grazing and the tram 

 pling of stock, does not dry up in ^. 

 summer, remaining green until late 

 in the fall. It is very nutritious either 

 as hay or pasture. Stock relish it and 

 thrive on it; experiment stations place its 

 feeding value ahead of Timothy, though it 

 does not equal Alfalfa as a milk and butter pro- 

 ducer, but it is always safe to feed. Brome Grass is a 

 splendid humus former and greatly improves the physical condition 

 of the soil, the roots penetrating 4 to 6 feet deep. Sow the seed 

 broadcast {20 to 25 lbs. per acre) in spring or early summer. {See 

 engraving.) Price on application. 



SUDAN GRASS or "Garawi Grass" 



The Great Hay and Forage Crop for Drought- Afflicted Sections. 

 Especially for the Southwest. 



This valuable new forage plant was introduced into the United 

 States by the Department of Agriculture. The seed was brought 

 from the Soudan, Egypt, hence the name "Sudan Grass." Sudan 

 Grass is strictly an annual, having no underground root-stocks to 

 spread over the ground, which is a point very much in its favor 

 because there is no danger of its getting out of bounds and becoming 

 a pest. It is thoroughly killed by frost each year, and the seed must 

 be sown again. 



When broadcasted for hay it rarely attains a height of more than 4 

 or 5 feet. The stems are smaller and more leafy than Johnson Grass 

 which it most resembles, and the hay is much softer. When broad- 

 casted for hay, or as a catch crop for forage, the number of cuttings 

 secured will depend on the length of the season and the amount of 

 moisture. The first crop matures in from 50 to 75 days, and the 

 recovery after cutting is so rapid that another cutting may be 

 taken 25 to 35 days later. Sudan Grass will produce as much as 

 an)' variety of Millet and yield two to four cuttings per year. Its 

 great value to the farmer in the eastern part of the country, or in a 

 droughty section is the ease with which it can be grown, and its 

 profitable yields of forage. All stock eat it greedily, and no iU 

 effects have been known to follow feeding it to working animals. 

 Sow broadcast for hav or forage using 15 to 20 lbs. per acre. 



Price, 50c. per lb.; $11.50 per bushel of 25 lbs.; $45.00 per 100 lbs 



BERMUDA GRASS '"Z?t°y^lon, 



Good for both Pasture and Hay. Especially adapted for 

 the South where other grasses will not grow. 



This perennial grass, of low-creeping habit, is 

 eminently adapted for the Southern States, 

 as it withstands drought and the scorch- 

 mg rays of the sun better than any 

 other variety. In all tropical coun- 

 tries this grass is highly esteemed 

 for its drought-resisting qualities, 

 and also for the peculiar habit 

 of its growth; the wiry roots 

 of the grass in running over 

 the surface of the ground 

 form a strong, fibrous mat- 

 ting. This has caused it 

 to be sown largely for the 

 purpose of binding banks 

 of creeks and dams, etc. It 

 is, however, preeminently 

 a pasture grass, rooting at 

 the joints and forming a 

 closely interwoven turf 

 that withstands the graz- 

 ing and trampling of 

 stock; the numerous leaves 

 produced from the base of 

 the plant furnish excellent 

 summer pasturage in sec- 

 tions where other grasses 

 burn out. It also supplies a 

 nutritious hay if cut early and 

 often, yielding under ordinary 

 conditions 1 to 2 tons per acre. It 

 thrives on most soils, preferring a 

 rich, sandy loam. As it spreads rap- 

 idly and soon takes possession of the 

 soil, it is in consequence principally used 

 for permanent pastures and also for lawns. 

 For lawns in the hot Southern States it is highly 

 prized, as while all other grasses are burned up during 

 the hot season, Bermuda Grass will remain green, and, if regularly 

 mown, it will make quite a velvety carpet. The only drawback is 

 that in winter it looks a little brown, but in the Southern States an 

 all-the-year-round green lawn can be maintained by sowing English 

 Rye Grass every fall at the rate of 50 lbs. per acre and harrowing or 

 raking it into the Bermuda Grass sod. Bermuda Grass seed should 

 be sown in the spring, as it will not germinate until warm weather 

 comes. As a grass for hay or pasture, it matures and gives its first 

 cutting ordinarily in June. It does not succeed further north than 

 Virginia. Sow 6 lbs. per acre. Price, 75c. per lb. ; 100 lbs., 70c. per lb. 



(SORGHUM 



HALAPENSE) 



JOHNSON GRASS 



As a meadow or hay grass, this variety is highly esteemed in the 

 South, where during the hottest and driest seasons it can be relied 

 upon to yield heavily. The aggressiveness of this grass has caused 

 it to be considered a veritable curse by some farmers by spreading 

 into cultivated fields, but it is highly esteemed by those who under- 

 stand it. Where it is desired to keep it within bounds, the seed 

 should never be allowed to ripen, as it spreads from the seeds dis- 

 seminated through hay much more than is generally supposed. 

 Besides, when fully ripe, the feeding value is little better than com 

 stalks, but, cut before the seed tops emerge from the sheaths, its 

 value as shown by chemical analysis is better than Timothy hay. 

 When cut at time recommended, the embryo seeds are unpoUenized 

 and imperfect, and are incapable of sprouting, so there is iio possi- 

 bility of introducing this grass where it is not wanted by using such 

 hay. We only advise the sowing of Johnson Grass where it is 

 desired to remain as permanent meadow. Should be sown August to 

 October; or in spring, at the rate of one bushel per acre. 



Price, 18 cts. per lb. ; $4.00 per bushel of 25 lbs. ; $15.00 per 100 lbs. 



We are always glad to advise with our Patrons — Seventy-one years of accumulated experience back of our advice 



