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74 Ss 
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J. STECKLER SEED CO., LTD., ALMANAC. AND 
wéeks. “It.is especially valuable for plant- 
ing 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, but has succeeded as far 
north as Charleston, S. C. Para Grass is 
usually propagated by planting pieces of 
the running stems, which often make a 
srowth of 20 to 30 feet in a season. Pieces 
of the stems from 6 to 12 inches long and 
hdaving three or four joints grow rapidly 
when simply pushed down into freshly 
plowed ground, so propagation is neither 
dificult nor expensive. The first growth 
from the ecuttings is in long prostrate 
runners, but aS soon as the ground becomes 
fairly well covered the plant becomes more 
erect, soon reaching a height of 3 to 4 
feet, so the closer the cuttings are planted 
the sooner a crop will be secured. Lf 
planted only 1 or 2 feet apart in each direc- 
tion, early in the Spring, two or three good 
cuttings for hay may be made the first 
season. Cuttings may be planted at any 
time from early Spring until as late as 
September, though late plantings will make 
little growth until the following season. 
For a good stand the first year plant 7,000 
to 8,000 roots, and at the end of the 
second year 3,500 to 4,000 roots; 75,000 
plants are required to plant 10 acres. 
Price of roots, $1.00 per 100; $8.00 per 
1,000. 
Mammoth Russian Sunflower. 
MAMMOTH RUSSIAN SUNFLOWER.— 
Single heads measure 15 to 22 inches in 
diameter, and contain an immense amount 
of seed which is highly valued by all farm- 
ers and poultry breeders who have tried 
it as an excellent and cheap food for fowls. 
It is the best egg-producing food known 
for poultry. It can be raised cheaper than 
corn, and is destined to be an article of 
great value. Every farmer should plant 
some of the seed in any waste piece of 
ground any time from early spring up to 
the middle of July. It is a wonderful im- 
provement on the old native Sunflower, and 
besides the great value of the seed as poul- 
try and stock food, its leaves make capital 
fodder while its strong, thick stalks can be 
profitably used as fuel. 
seed will plant one acre. 
Three pounds of- 
| 
PASPALUM 
pounds to the acre should 
stand on land which should produce 12 
bushels of corn or 25 bushels of oats. If 
mixed thoroughly with dampened oats, % 
bushel oats to 8 pounds of Paspalum Dila- 
tatum, this would scatterr the seed 
sufficiently when sown, then harrowed and 
dragged well—putting in the seed an inch 
or two. A peck of dry Paspalum Dilatatum 
seed usually weighs 6 pounds. When well 
up and rooted a slight grazing and tramp- 
DILATATUM. — Hight 
make a good 
ing causes it to stool out the more. It may 
be sown on Bermuda _§ sod. Purposes: 
Specially for grazing cows, horses, colts, 
ete. Our domestic poultry are very fond 
of it, and a drove of turkeys pick it with 
delight. We know of no plant that is such 
a conservator of the soil—enriching and 
preventing washes. The seeds are so small 
and light that they are troublesome _ to 
gather and cure. Only about 4 to 6 seed 
stalks push out from a tuft of roots; grow- 
ing 2 to 3 feet high. It flourishes mostly 
in rich meadow like lands; an _ overflow 
will not kill it, as it is all the time assert- 
ing itself. A good plowing and cultivation 
will kill it, changing a field to other farm 
purposes. Plant from November to March, 
as a frost will not kill it. 
SPELTZ OR EMMER.—This grain grows 
tall like rye and matures early like barley, 
and each year, when tested by the side of 
each, it has yielded twice aS much per: 
acre as oats, and three bushels to one of 
barley, and it is much better feed for stock 
than either. It yields 40 to 80 bushels to 
the acre, and from 4 to 6 tons of straw hay. 
Tough and hardy, it stands the drouth bet- 
ter than any other grain, making it a sure 
erop. It is a grain to sow for profit. Your 
chickens and geese, your horses and colts, 
your cows and ealves, your sheep, lambs 
and swine, all will eat it eagerly and 
flourish. The culture of Speltz is sim- 
plicity itself. It is just as easy as sow- 
ing oats or wheat. Prepare your land as 
you would for wheat or oats, and sow at 
the rate of 2 bushels per acre. Sow very 
early in the spring or fall, and do not let 
it stand until it gets too ripe before cut- 
ting, as any grain that yields well shells 
easily. In the green state it makes an ex- 
cellent pasture. Has given good results 
both in Texas and Oklahoma. 
SEED BARLEY.—tThe 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 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 
spring, and is ready to cut two weeks 
ahead of wheat. It is well adapted for 
seeding at the last working of corn or cot- 
ton, and prevents witner leaching and 
washing of soils by winter rains. Sow at 
the rate of 2 bushels per acre broadcast. 
ONOBYRCHIS SATIVA. — (Esparsette 
Sanfoin.)—This perennial, Huropean, 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. 
Twenty pounds to the acre. 
All of our Fruit Trees are Adapted to this Climate. 
