14 ASSOCIATED SEEDS, INC. 
GRASSES — Continued 


Rhodes grass 
RHODES GRASS Chloris gayana 
First cultivated in South Africa by Cecil Rhodes and introduced by the U. S. 
Department of Agriculture in 1902. One of the most valuable permanent pasture, 
hay, and erosion-control grasses yet discovered for south Texas, the lower half of 
the Gulf coastal area and Florida climate and soils. Furnishes more green 
grazing over a longer period than any other perennial pasture grass in this area. 
Responds to irrigation. Endures the short periods of cold weather in south 
Texas but also withstands long periods of very hot weather. Plants 2-4 ft. 
tall with perennial spreading runners; stems numerous, very leafy, dark green, 
succulent, of high moisture content and very nutritious. The sod, though tough, 
is not difficult to plow out, and the soil is left improved for following crops 
in more than one season. 
SAND DROPSEED (Mesquite) Sporobolus cryptandrus 
A good native range grass for erosion control and grazing, alone or with other 
permanent range and pasture grasses. Grows best on tight sandy soils and is 
widely adapted. Plants perennial, in very small tufted bunches, growing vigor- 
ously on limited amounts of moisture, not very leafy, but sending up numerous 
fine stems 12-18 inches tall. Seeds profusely. Furnishes winter and summer 
grazing. An inexpensive grass to use, the seed being very small. 
SIDE-OATS GRASS Bouteloua curtipendula 
The most widely adapted permanent summer perennial pasture, range, and ero- 
sion-control grass found on limestone soils, with the longest grazing period of 
any range bunch grass. Low in moisture content but very nutritious and fatten- 
ing, green or dry. Thrives best, like oats, on limestone, sandstone, and shale 
soils. Withstands drought well and furnishes grazing when dormant in winter. 
The fine fibrous root system holds the soil and adds organic matter to the 
subsoil. Easy to establish, responds to cultivation; readily controlled, and 
adaptable for maintenance work on highways and soil binding. Often grown in 
mixtures with other range bunch grasses. Plants erect to spreading, and their 
numerous fine leafy shoots form a very dense turf. May be recognized by its 
very short, scaly underground rootstocks and numerous long, upright seed stems, 
114-3ft. tall, with seeds borne in spiked clusters spaced at intervals along the 
upper part of the stems. 
