GARDEN MANUAL FOR THE SOUTHERN STATES. 



105 



■ofciier grass; became adapted to a great 

 variety of soils and conditions, and a vast 

 number (seventy or more) cf varieties 

 produced, some of wliich were greatly 

 improved while others were inferior and 

 became annuals. Introduced into the 

 United States in the first quarter of the 

 past century, English Rye is largely sown 

 by our landscape gardeners for winter 

 lawns on Bermuda sad. The Bermuda 

 blades being easily affected by frost be- 

 come red and rusty locking, while 

 English Rye during winter presents a 

 most beautiful appearance, being of a 

 vivid green, and as the Bermuda during 

 April and May makes its appearance it 

 overgrov/s the English Rye, causing the 

 latter to decay and act as a fertilizer to 

 the existing gra^s. It should be sown 

 from September to March, at the rate of 

 3 bushels of seed per acre. 



Seed Rye. This crop is used all over 

 the South for fall, winter and spring 

 pasturage, early green food, and for 

 green manuring, as well as for grain. 

 Rye is very hardy, and will grow on 

 poorer land than other grain crops. It 

 makes good winter and spring pasture, 

 and, if sown early enough, makes a good 

 fall pasture, also. It is a good spring 

 soiling crop, giving the earliest bite of 

 green stuff, makes a fair quality of hay if 

 cut in bloom, or before it is fully headed 

 out. It is very extensively grown, and 

 succeeds well throughout the South. 

 Rye can be very satisfactorily sown at 

 the last working of corn or cotton, or it 

 can be sown by itself from July to 

 November. Sow at the rate of l^/^ 

 bushels per acre. 



Italian Rye 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 shcots 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 hay. It 

 succeeds very well on all soils, and is 

 particularly recommended for rich or 

 heavy low-grounds, and it will stand 

 more overflew 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 60 pounds 

 to the acre, and, as it is an annual, it re- 



quires seeding each year. It should be 

 cut when in bloom for hay. 



Seed Barley. The particular value of 

 Barley for growing in the South is for 

 fall, winter and spring grazing, and to 

 cut, before 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 nutritive and feeding quali- 

 ties. It is so easily grown, and succeeds 

 so well throughout the South, that it 

 should be much more largely grown than 

 at present. It can be constantly grazed 

 during the winter and spring, and is 

 ready to cut two weeks ahead of wheat. 

 It is well adapted for seeding at the last 

 working of corn cr cotton, and prevents 

 winter leaching and washing of soils by 

 winter rains. Sew at the rate of from 

 IVz to 2 bushels per acre, broadcast. Our 

 barley is choice Southern-raised seed, 

 which is the only kind that should be 

 sown in this section. 



Seed Wheat. Popular Southern varie- 

 ty, usually ripening in May in the South. 

 It is an earlj^ ripening prolific sort. 

 Principally planted here for early feed to 

 cut green, also for hay any grazing. Seed 

 is valuable for poultry and fowls. Two 

 bushels will plant an acre. 



Red Rust Proof Oats. Have come into 

 general cultivation. They are very valu- 

 able, 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 climate. 

 They can be sown as early as October, 

 but should be pastured down as scon as 

 they commence to joint, till February. 

 When the ground is lovv', or the season 

 wet, this cannot well be done without 

 destroying the whole crop. During Janu- 

 ary and February is the rroper time to 

 cut it for green fodder, if no pasturing 

 can be done. One to oire 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 com- 

 mon oats. Those who have not already 

 tried this variety should do so. 



Early Winter Turf Oats. Stool more 

 than any other variety; can be pastured 

 the whole winter, and are as hardy as 

 Wheat. Claimed to produce more and 

 heavier grain than other varieties; 1 to 

 iy2 bushels to the acre. 



Dwarf Essex Rape. This Rape may be 

 sown broadcast at the rate of 20 pounds 

 per acre and harrowed in. Under favor- 

 able conditions it is ready for pasturing 

 sheep or cattle within six weeks from the 

 time of sowing, and on an average one 



Plant Early Winter Turf Oats, Millo Maize and Giant Beggar Weed. 



