Florida Agricultural Experiment Station


 Vasey grass is best adapted to rich soils or soils that have
been limed and fertilized. Intermittent grazing, requiring 2
or more pastures, is desirable, since this grass grows rather
erect and can be exterminated by close grazing. Vasey grass
is of minor importance in Florida at present.
 Napier Grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum.) is a tall (6 to
12 feet high) cane-like perennial plant (Figs. 8, 20 and 32).
Elephant grass is generally considered as another common name
for Napier grass. The leaf blades are 1 to 3 feet long and usually
less than 1 inch wide.
 Although Napier grass seeds freely in southern Florida, pas-
tures are more easily established with root or stem cuttings.
This grass may be used for temporary and rotational grazing
and also for hay and silage. Hay is difficult to cure because
of coarseness. Napier grass should not be grazed until it reaches
a height of 3 to 5 feet. Rotational grazing is necessary, 3 to 5
fields being required to furnish continuous grazing. If only
1 field is available it may be grazed until the leaves are removed,
after which cattle should be withdrawn. It is palatable and
steers have made excellent gains when ample leafy herbage is
available. It might be used for fattening animals before mar-
keting.
 Napier grass should be planted on well fertilized and limed
soils. It is widely adapted from the standpoint of moisture re-
 FIG. 30.-PARA GRASS.
This is a tall perennial which is propagated by stems and runners. The
 stems root at the joints to form new plants.