Florida Agricultural Experiment Station


 be used, as such varieties furnish grazing during a longer
 period (Table 11). Both oats and rye are planted during the
 fall for supplementary winter grazing. Italian rye grass also
 furnishes good winter grazing on rich moist soils well supplied
 with nitrogen. Vetch may be planted with oats or rye on the
 heavier soils. Hairy and Augusta vetch are best adapted.
 Summer grazing crops include Cattail millet, Sudan grass,
 cowpeas, soybeans and other crops of less importance. Of the
 summer grazing crops, Cattail millet is most commonly used
 because of its high-yielding ability, rapid growth and resistance
 to diseases. It is not injured by root-knot nematodes. Cattail
 millet should be grazed intermittently when 18 to 24 inches tall.
 When well fertilized and carefully managed, 4 or 5 grazings may
 be expected. It is advisable to make a sequence of plantings
 so as to furnish grazing during the longest possible period of
 time.
 Sudan grass furnishes an excellent quality of feed but this
 grass is susceptible to several leaf diseases which, when present,
 decrease its food value and retard growth. Tift Sudan, a variety
 which is resistant to the most destructive diseases, has recently
 been developed and is recommended. Cowpeas furnish excellent
 grazing when planted alone or with crops like millet, corn or
 Sudan grass. Varieties of cowpeas which are resistant to root-
 knot, such as Iron, should be utilized. Sorghum also may be
usedsd for grazing, but there is danger of prussic acid poisoning.
 The seedbed for all of these crops should be thoroughly pre-
 pared so that weeds will not compete with the young seedlings.
 Recommended varieties, rates of seeding, rates of fertilizing,
 and planting and grazing dates are given in Table 11.
 Perennial grazing crops include Napier grass, kudzu and
 Lespedeza sericea (Thunb.) Benth. Napier grass may be planted
 with root cuttings in early spring or with stem cuttings in June
 and July. Stem cuttings buried in the soil in the fall may be
 used for planting material the following spring. Plantings
 should not be made with stem cuttings later than the first part
 of August. It is recommended that the root or stem cuttings
 be spaced 2 feet apart in rows 6 to 8 feet apart. Good prep-
 aration of the soil is essential. The soil should be fertilized
 previous to planting and additional sidedressings with nitrogen
 should be made to further stimulate growth. Several cultiva-
 tions should be made during the first year to control weeds while
 the grass is becoming established. After the first year 1 cultiva-