10 



HENDERSON'S AMERICAN FARMER'S MANUAL. 



GRASSES«SOUTH&WEST 



"GR7TSS IS KTNr«." = 



TEXAS BL,UE GRASS. (Poa Arachnifera.) 



This is an invaluable hardy winter Grass for the South, and the longest, 

 driest and hottest summer fails to injure it. It makes as good sod as the 

 Kentucky Blue Grass (Poa Pratensis), and if sown together (not too deep) 

 the seeds of the two varieties generally come up together after the same 

 shower, for it takes a wet, damp, drizzly spell to start it. It can be cultivated 

 from both seed and sets, and either may be planted in the fall or spring, 

 though the fall is preferable. The seeds are of a woolly, webby nature, and 

 hitherto this condition has greatly retarded its cultivation from seed, but 

 one of our correspondents has overcome this, and has favored us with 

 details of his method of parting and sowing the seed. This has been put 

 together by us in the shape of a pamphlet, a copy of which we will send 

 free with all orders. The sets should be planted at any time between 

 the fall and the end of February, after plowing, in rows 1V 2 feet apart, and 

 10 to 12 inches between the plants (about 20,000 sets to the acre). They will 

 soon seed and spread, and form a compact turf of the highest value. Parties 

 ordering should be careful to state Texas Blue Grass, so as not to confound 

 it with Kentucky Blue Grass. 



Pbice.— 20 cts. per packet ; 40 cts. per oz. ; SI. 00 per U lb. ; S3. 50 per lb. ; 

 $300.00 per 100 lbs. 



LOUISIANA GRASS. (Paspalum Platycaule.) 



This is a valuable Grass, as it furnishes an abundance of green feed for 

 stock all the year, except a short time during the coldest period of winter. 

 It increases rapidly from seed, and also reproduces itself from suckers. It 

 grows well on all dry lands, and stands drought better than Bermuda or 

 Johnson Grass. It grows from 2 to 5 feet high, and stands the hoof better 

 than the Johnson Grass. It is readily propagated from seeds or sets. Sets, 

 75 cts. per 100 ; $6.00 per 1,000. Seed, $2.00 per lb. ; 10 lb. lots, $1.75 per lb. 



BERMUDA GRASS. (Cynodon Dactylon.) 



This is a grass that is eminently adapted for the 

 Southern States, as it is fitted by nature to with- 

 stand drought and the scorching rays of the sun 



better than any other variety that we know of. Hitherto, the great difficulty in extending the cultivation of 

 this Southern Grass has been that it has had to be propagated for the most part by sets, which is always a 

 tardy operation, but this is now a thing of the past. We have been ransacking the universe for several years 

 for a spot where a plentiful supply of good germinating seed of this grass can be grown, and have at last 

 found one, so that those who have been waiting for good germinating seed of the true 

 variety of Bermuda Grass need wait no longer. "Who can estimate the boon this will be 

 to the South ? It will be simply invaluable. When once sown and partly established, it 

 will propagate itself. In all tropical countries, 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 matting. It 

 has numerous joints, from each of which roots strike down and blades shoot up. This 

 has caused it to be sown largely for the purpose of binding banks of creeks and dams, etc. It makes a 

 perfect carpet of roots, enabling it to withstand traffic which would completely kill any other grass. For 

 lawns it is also highly prized, as while all other grasses are burned up during the hot season, Bermuda 

 Grass will look comparatively green, and if watered and regularly mown, it will make quite a velvety car- 

 pet. The only drawback is that in winter it looks a little brown. It 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. Persons having the most experience with Bermuda Grass, place the average 

 yield of hay for ten years at four tons per acre per annum. This is a cautious and safe estimate of its pro- 

 ductiveness. It grows wherever corn and cotton grow. On poor land Bermuda Grass is stumpy and 

 coarse ; on rich land its growth is free, and its blades are long, tender and delicate. Properly cultivated 

 in Southern latitudes, animals prefer this grass and the hay made from it over all other varieties. Like 

 Japan Clover, it does not succeed further north than Virginia. Price of Seed, SI. 50 lb. ; 100 lbs., $1.25 lb. 



SORGHUM HALAPENSE. (Johnson Grass.) 



As a forage plant, this grass has proved to be of the greatest value in Alabama and other of the large 

 Southern States. It will grow on any land where corn will grow, and, in the opinion of so well-known 

 an authority as Wm. Saunders, of the Department of Agriculture at Washington, is 

 looked upon as having the greatest prospective value. In Alabama they make three 

 cuttings of it yearly, and from the returns average five tons of ha}' per acre. This is 

 grown on good bottom land, and all the cultivation it receives is to plow it down once in 

 three years and then give it a very thorough harrowing, when an increased crop ensues. 

 The best stage at which to cut for hay is when the grass comes into bloom, when it will be from 24 to 30 inches high. It is then very 

 tender, and far more nutritious than sweet corn. All kinds of stock are fond of it. It is of perennial growth and takes firm hold of the 

 soil, and spreads rapidly. Seeds of this grass should be sown alone, in well-prepared ground, from August to October 15th, sowin°- 

 broadcast one bushel extra clean seed to the acre. Price, 20 cts. lb. ; bushel of 25 lbs., S3. 50 ; 100 lbs., S12.U0. 



TEXAS Bin; GRASS. 



BERMUDA GBASS. 



