GARDEX MANUAL FOR THE SOUTHERN STATES. 



97 



GRASS AND FIELD SEEDS. 



We have often been asked what kind of Grass Seed is the best for this latitude, but so., 

 far we have never been able to answer this question satisfactorily. For hay we do not think 

 there is anything- better than Alfalfa. For permanent g-rass we have come to the conclusion 

 that none of the grasses used for this purpose North and West will answer, Barley, Kye, Red 

 Oats, Millet and Rescue Grass will make winter pasturagre in this latitude. Different kinds 

 of Clover answer very well during spring, but during the hot summer months we have never 

 found anything to stand and produce except the Bermuda, which is indigenous to the South. 

 Of late years the Lespedeza Striata, or Japan Clover, has been sown extensively, a descrip- 

 tion of which will be found on page 103. 



The Bermuda, in our opinion, is better suited for pasturage than hay, as it is rather short 

 and hard when cured. Having tried Guinea Grass we have come to the conclusion that it 

 does well here. It will produce a large quantity of hay or green fodder. The Johnson Grass 

 advertised by some as Guinea Grass, is not Guinea Grass; it is much coarser, and can hardly 

 be destroyed after having taken hold of a piece of ground. From the experience of the past 

 years of the largest sugar planters of this State, Alfalfa or Lucerne has proven itself to be 

 the best and largest hay crop for this Southern section, the increase in planting of this grass 

 is over 150 per cent. There exists a great difference of opinion in regard to which grass seed 

 is the most suitable for the South. 



Red Clover. 



Meadow Fescue Grass. 



White Dutch Clover. 



Red Clover. Should be sown either dur- 

 ing fall or early in spring. Ten to fifteen 

 pounds to an acre. 



White Dutch Clover. A grass sown for 

 pasturage at the rate of five to eight pounds 

 to the acre. Should be sown in fall and early 

 spring. 



Alfalfa or Chili Clover, or French Lu- 

 cerne. This variety does well here, but the 

 ground has to be well prepared and deeply 

 plowed. It will not do in low wet ground. 

 Should be sown in the fall of the year, or 

 January and February. The land should be 

 broken as deeply as can be done with the 

 tools and teams at hand. Then harrow and 

 re-harrow until in fine condition. If poor, 

 make the land rich with plenty of stable 

 manure. Try to put it on land that has had 



clean cultivation for a year or two, so as to 

 have it as free as possible of native grass 

 seeds. The land should have a rain on it 

 after last harrowing to firm it, poor stands 

 are attributable to porous, open, cloddy land 

 more than to any other cause. The seeds 

 sprout, the roots start down, and soon strike 

 a cavity, and then of necessity it dies. Sow 

 broadcast about thirty pounds of seed per 

 acre, on ground firmed by rains or roller — 

 the former much more favorable. Then har- 

 row thoroughly with straight tooth harrow, 

 the teeth running about one inch deep — and 

 it won't hurt to harrow it three times in as 

 many different directions. The thirty pounds, 

 if equally distributed over an acre would 

 give more than a plant to every square 

 inch, if they all came up. But it must be 



Steckler's Southern Grown Seeds are always Pure and Reliable. 



