GARDEX MANUAL FOR THE SOUTHERN STATES. 



97 



GRASS AND FIELD FEEDS. 



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 grass we have come to the con- 

 clusion that none of the grasses used for this purpose North and West will answer, 

 Barley, Rye, Red Oats, Millet and Rescue Grass will make winter pasturage 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 and Crabgrass, which 

 are indigenous to the South. Of late years the Lespedeza Striata, or Japan Clover, has been 

 sown extensively, a description 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 

 wiil not answer here, from the fact it will freeze out every year. It will produce a large 

 quantity of hay or green fodder, but has to be resown every spring. The seeds that are 

 raised here are light, and do not germinate freely. To import seed every year is rather 

 troublesome. 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 three 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 Gress. 



White Dutch Clover. 



Red Clover. Should be sown either 

 during 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 puunds 

 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. 

 Shouid 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-five pounds of seed 

 per acre, on graund 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-five 

 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. 



