GARDEN MANUAL FOR THE SOUTHERN STATES. 



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Bed Top Grass. 



BED TOP GBASS. — (Agrostis Vulgaris.) 

 This is the best grass of England, the herd 

 grass of the United States; not in honor of 

 any man, but probably because so well 

 adapted to the herd. It is called also Fine 

 Top Burden's Grass. It glows two to 

 three feet high, and can be mown when 

 four feet high. It grows well on hill tops 

 and sides, in ditches, gullies and marshes, 

 but delights in moist bottom land. It fur- 

 nishes considerable grazing during warm 

 "spells" in winter, and in spring and sum- 

 mer an abundant supply of nutrition. It 

 has a tendency, being very hardy, to in- 

 crease in density of growth and extent of 

 surface, and will continue indefinitely, 

 though easily subdued by the plow. Cut 

 before maturing seeds it makes a good 

 hay and large quantity. Red Top and 

 Timothy, being adapted to the same soil 

 and maturing at the same time, do well 

 together and produce an excellent hay. 

 Sow tv.-o bushels per acre, if alone, in Sep- 

 tember, October, February or March; if 

 with Timothy for hay from 6 to 10 pounds; 

 if with other grasses for pasture, 3 to 5 

 pounds. It is an excellent pasturage grass, 

 and will grow on almost any kind of soil. 



FAB A GBASS. — (Panicum Barbinode.) 

 Para Grass is a native of South America 

 and is grown somewhat commonly in 

 Florida, to a rapidly increasing extent in 

 Southern Texas, and occasionally through- 

 out the Gulf Coast region. It is a peren- 

 nial which makes its best growth on damn 

 soils, though it has been fairly successful 

 on Texas ranches on heavy soils without 

 irrigation where irrigation is needed for 

 most other crops. It is not injured by 

 prolonged overflows and makes a vigorous 

 growth where the land is under water 

 several weeks. It is especially valuable for 

 planting on ditch banks, on the margins of 

 ponds, and on soils too wet and seepy for 

 the cultivation of other crops. It is used 



for both hay and pasture. Para Grass will 

 not withstand a lower temperature than 

 about 18 degrees F. It is therefore adapted 

 only to the extreme southern portion of 

 the country, and, perhaps, to California. 

 It has succeeded as far north as Charles- 

 ton, S. C. The time of planting is from 

 April 1st to August 31st, but the best time 

 is June 15th to August 1st. Price of roots, 

 $1.50 per 100; $10.00 per 1000. 



ITALIAN BYE. — Is coming into great 

 favor wherever it is grown. Sown in the 

 fall it comes up quickly and makes a dense 

 matter turf, which gives most excellent 

 grazing during the fall, winter and early 

 spring. If it is desired to be used as a 

 hay crop it should not be grazed too long 

 in the spring, as it shoots up very early, 

 making a thick growth of grass which, 

 when cut, cures up splendidly for hay. "With 

 a favorable season it will yield three or four 

 successive cuttings of most excellent and 

 nutritious ha}'. It succeeds very well on 

 all soils, and is particularly recommended 

 for rich or heavy low grounds, and it will 

 stand more overflow than any other grass 

 with which we have had experience. Italian 

 Rye Grass is principally recommended for 

 fall seeding, and can be sown during 

 August, September and October. It should 

 be sown at the rate of 80 pounds to the 

 acre, and, as it is an annual, it requires 

 seeding each year. It should be cut when 

 in bloom for hay. 



SEED BABLEY. — The particular value of 

 Barley for growing in the South is for fall, 

 winter and spring grazing, and to cut, be- 

 fore it heads out full, to use as a hay crop. 

 Barley stools out more, and makes fall, 

 winter and spring grazing. Cut for hay, it 

 cures up splendidly and is superior in nu- 

 tritive and feeding qualities. It is so 

 easily grown, and succeeds so well through- 

 out the South, that it should be much more 

 largely grown than at present. It can be 

 constantly grazed during the winter and 

 soring, and is ready to cut two weeks ahead 

 of wheat. It is well adapted for seeding 

 at the last working of corn or cotton, and 

 prevents winter leaching and washing of 

 soils by winter rains. Sow at the rate of 

 2 bushels per acre broadcast. Our Barley 

 is choice Southern raised seed, which is 

 the only kind that should be sown in this 

 section. 



BED BUST FBOOF OATS. — Have come 

 into general cultivation. They are very 

 valuable, and will save a great deal of 

 corn on a farm. The seed of this variety 

 has a reddish cast, a peculiar long beard, 

 and is very heavy. It is the only kind 

 which will not rust in the Southern cli- 

 mate. They can be sown as early as Octo- 

 ber, but should be pastured down as soon 

 as they commence to joint, till February. 

 When the ground is low, or the season wet 

 this cannot well be done without destroy- 

 ing the whole crop. During January and 

 February is the proper time to cut it for 

 green fodder, if no pasturing can be done. 

 One to one and a half bushels per acre is 

 sufficient. These Oats have a tendency to 

 stool, and therefore do not require as much 

 per acre as common oats. Those who have 

 not already tried this variety should do so. 



ONOEYECHIS SATIVA. — (Esparsette 

 Sanfoin.) — This perennial. European, pea- 

 like plant, has a high character as a feed 

 in France. It is cultivated to but a limited 

 extent in the South. It is worthy of a 

 trial as it belongs to a warm climate. 20 

 pounds to the acre. 



Plant Lespedeza Clover, the Greatest Forage Plant. 



