Pastures for Florida


mature stems and covering by subsequent disking. Para grass
is sensitive to cold injury and is used primarily in southern
Florida. Best growth occurs on rich, low land, especially muck
soils. Under proper management it is an excellent grass for
wet, sandy muck
and muck soils
which are under-
laid with lime.
Newly establish-
ed Para grass \ I
pastures should
be protected until
the grass is 11/2
to 3 feet high and
well sodded. It
should be grazed
rotationally rath-
er than continu-
ously; and an oc-
casional disking
stimulates
growth. Para
grass can be used .
for hay. ,
 Vasey Grass
(Paspalum urvil- '
lei Steud.) resem- )
bles Dallis grass --
but is taller and
more erect in
growth habit FIG. 29.-IMPROVED BERMUDA GRASS.
 Coastal and No. 99 appear to be the best varie-
(Fig. 31). The ties, produce vigorous vegetative growth and seed
seedstalks, hairy sparsely or not at all. They have both surface and
 underground stems.
at the bases, grow
2 to 6 feet high, bearing 6 to 25 branches. The leaf blades are
3 to 15 inches long and about 1/4 to 1/2 inch wide. The seed is
very hairy, light in weight, greyish brown in color and smaller
than Dallis grass seed. Only a small quantity of commercial
seed is available. However, this grass seeds prolifically along
roadsides, railroads and other locations in Florida. The seed
usually germinates readily.