The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1845-08-14
GRASSES FOR THE SOUTH.

Eanor offhe Culiira.or-Yourc cores.
Pondents frequently inquire respecting the
grasses suitable 20 the South. If each
would communicate what he has observed,
II would be sufficient answer 10 such N.
quiries, and might prove the mos, impor.
ianl benefit 10 the agriculture Of the South.
DURING this winter have seen bundles o.
northern hay brought TO the stables Of NV
nelghbor, which had paid for carriage ma
ny hundred miles round the capes Of Flo.
rida, through The Gulf Of Mexico, and Ave
hundred miles (by the course OF the riyer)
into The interior. This is n standing re.
proach 10 the agriculture of the south.
Lueerne--This is found 10 grow well
here. Sow il in drills, in the early par, Of
The fall, "a 10 % inches apart; i, flourishes,
yields four 10 FIVE cuttings in the course Of
the year. and ON soil which would bring 20
bushels Of corn to the acre. grows one FOO,
and half high. This season, some was
cut on the 18Th Of March, for soiling; and
was then from foot 10 knee high. The
most Of il has been cut twice over, since
The hrsiculting, 90 this day, May 10. Cat
lie and horses eatit greedily; acow fed on
i chiefly, is yielding al this time between
five and six gallons Of milk daily; when as
yet there 10 no grass in the woods or on the
common, sufficient TO change the poverty
range nave @s 9. nS nay ss from 10 bu.
have no doubt il will make good hay.
Guinea Grass.-'Ihe root Is similar 10
that Of The cane orreed, and tits perennial.
The stem and blade are like those Of the
Egyptian Millet. On rich soil il is very
luxuriant, yielding many cuttings in the
course ofthe year. tits good for soiling-
horses and cattle eat il readily, and il cut
when in flower, il makes hay most abun.
dainty. Of which cattle feedgreedily in win
ter. Horses do moi seem 10 like the hay.
II is most rapidly propagated by the root.
A small root, two inches long, with one or
more joints to il, will vegetate; and If the
ground is made loose by blowing once or
twice during the season afterplaniing. roots
placed in checks offour feet will take com.
plete possession Of the soil the first season;
so that the next spring j, will start up
evenly over the soil every where. Hogs
root after them with great eagerness; and
rs the tendency Of this plant is to ill the
ground with roots in so thick mat that
the grass does not grow tall in conse.
quence, the idea suggests itself ofpasturing
cattle on this grass in the spring and sum-
mer, and giving the hogs the benefit Of the
roots in the winter. They cannot destroy
il; the smallest fibre left in the ground viii
grow. II might be great great pest in
garden, but il land is TO be used for stock
il will take and maintain entire possession
to the exclusion Of any competitor which
we have in middle Alabama.
Clover and Herds Grass.-lhave now
beautiful lot Of these grasses in conjunc-
ton on high land; the whole about knee
high, and the Clover in flower. Mr.. Kir.
BY, one Of my neighbours, cut the wood
from piece Of low pipe clay. crawfish
land, last winter; and when the brush, &c.
lying on the ground became sufficiently
dry, he set fire to it and burnt it of; thus
giving it a top dressing Of ashes. He then
sowed Herds grass on the top Of the
ground, without pillow, harrow, or any thing
Of the kind. He now has most rich and
beautiful crop of this grass growing. Tide.
sired, your readers may obtain further par
ticulars Of this crop.
Leersia Orizoides. (ries grass. This
plant so much resembles rice that only a
practiced eye can distinguish them. The
negroes on the rice plantations in Carolina
call it the rice's cousin II will grow
wherever rice within the water or in any
damp situation. 1t is found in all the
southern country; grows tall, seeds in a
panicle no, unlike head of oats, and will
yield two crops year Of choice hay.
Roots perennial. b. M.
Tuscaloosa, Allah. May 10, ls45.
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