RHODES-GRASS, a newly-introduced species, is a native of central and southern Africa, where it is regarded as one of the best species for pastures on dry soils. It is a per ennial, growing from three to four feet high, with a large number of very long, narrow and tender leaves and with rather few branching stems.
When grown from seeds its growth is com monly erect the first season, but when grown from roots, or the second season when grown from seed, it makes runnerlike brunches two to four feet long, which root at the joints and so cover• the ground quite rapidly.
It is propagated by both seed and roots. When seed is used it should be sown at corn planting time at the rate of about 10 pounds per acre on a soil having a fine mellow sur face and then given a light harrowing. As the seed is produced only in small quantities and as it continues to be developed and matured through the entire season, little of it can be gathered at any one time; consequently the grass is more commonly propagated by roots.
The roots may be planted m well-prepared land at any time from February to July, putting them two to four feet apart and protecting them from grazing until they become well established. This grass has been introduced so recently that seed is still scarce on the market.
While the principal value of the grass is for grazing it is also used for hay, giving two or three cuttings of about one ton each per acre. The hay is of excellent quality. It bears severe drought and moderate frost without in jury, but is easily killed by plowing late in the season. It is not recommended for cultivation except in the southern part of the Gulf States. Rhodes-grass is especially promising for the semi-arid regions of the extreme Southwest, where the temperature does not fall below F.