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Show LEAVES' rom v-r:' -.'r:-:.-,.hy HARRIET MAY WILSON I Lawn and Pasture Although it is generally assumed that Kentucky bluegrass is a native of Kentucky, such, in fact, is not the case. When Daniel Boone led his intrepid pioneers into Kentucky, no spear of the handsome bluegrass met their gaze. Like most of our valuable grasses, bluegrass was brought to America from the Old world by early colonists. Bluegrass is now widespread in America and has great value both as a lawn grass and for pastures. It is seldom actually sown in pastures, pas-tures, since, because of its creeping underground stems, it is practically practical-ly certain to appear anyway in good pasture land. Lawns everywhere (except in very dry regions) are seeded to bluegrass and white clover, the bluegrass germinating quickly and forming a thick rich growth while the clover is becoming established. The name "bluegrass" was first, presumably, applied to Canada bluegrass which has a bluish foliage, and was later transferred trans-ferred to the Kentucky species which is actually a lush, deep green. Another important immigrant from the Old world is Redtop. This is a beautiful grass and very widespread,- being found everywhere in the United States. It is said, as a result of experiment, that no other grass will grow under as great a variety of conditions as Redtop and that it is the best wet-land grass among the "tame" species. Red-top Red-top will grow in soils deficient in lime; it is strongly drouth-resistant; it is a vigorous grower and will form a good turf in a very short period of time. A recent government govern-ment bulletin says of Redtop that: "Its chief uses are (1) as a wet-land or sour-land hay crop; (2) as a part of pasture mixtures under humid conditions, especially on soils other than limestone; (3) as a soil binder; and (4) as an ingredient in all hay mixtures which are to be fed at home." The grass most used for lawns and pastures in the South is Bermuda Ber-muda grass, particularly on clay and loamy soils. It does not seed readily in humid regions and is therefore commonly planted by pieces of root-stalk. Several varieties varie-ties of Bermuda grass are recognized, recog-nized, the most valuable of which, agriculturally, is the Brazil Giant Bermuda with its rich blue-green foliage. CARPET GRASS A grass which is especially adapted adapt-ed to sandy or sandy loam soils, especially on lands with a high water table, is the so-called Carpet grass, also known as Louisiana grass. On lands of this nature it will occupy the land in pure growth, especially under heavy continuous grazing. Moreover, it will produce good crops of seed even where it is heavily grazed. Government experts ex-perts say that "over much of the area in which it grows, carpet grass is more valuable than any other perennial grass yet known, for permanent per-manent pastures." It does best under un-der conditions of abundant heat and moisture and where such conditions prevail it provides pasture from May to November. A meadow grass which comes on early in spring and remains late in ; the fall, thus supplementing native j pastures, is Meadow fescue, some-: some-: times called English bluegrass. Its leaves are bright green in color and very succulent, and it also makes a very good quality of hay it permitted permit-ted to ripen. It is said that for wet soils, few grasses are the equal of meadow fescue. Its habit of flourishing flour-ishing in late fall after early frosts have killed the native grasses, makes it valuable to stockmen since it reduces by some weeks the period of dry feeding. Sheep fescue is a native of both the Old world and the New, being found along the Great Lakes and in the Rocky mountains. It is a bunch grass. It is adapted to the same general climatic conditions as isblue-grass isblue-grass and may be grown northward as far as any agriculture is possible. It does exceptionally well on poor sandy or gravelly soils and, although it is tough, it is nutritious and is eagerly eaten by sheep. Cattle, too, will feed upon it readily. The usual rate of seeding per acre for grasses listed here is: Kind Pounds Kentucky bluegrass 14-18 Redtop 8-10 Bermuda grass 5 Meadow fescue 25-30 Carpet grass 5-10 Sheep fescue 25-30 For further information on grasses, send five cents to Superintendent of Documents. Washington. D. C. asking ior F armers' Iletm No. 1254. IIOW NUTS BECOME WORMY Did you ever, when you were a child, bite into a wild sweet acorn, only to find it harboring at its heart a fat, white, and wrinkled worm? These worms are the larvae of the snout beetle. The snout beetle is so called because its head is elongat- ed into a snout which is sometimes long and curved. When the acorns I or nuts are young and soft the snout beetle punches a hole in them with ! her snout, then deposits an egg in I the hole. In due time the egg hatches j into the worm which spoils the nut. |