Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1845-10-01
From The Culiiuator.
GRASSES OF The SOUTH.

Editor of The Cultivalor.-Yuur cores
ponden,s frequently inquire respecting he
grasses suitable TO the South. If each
would communicate what be has OBJ
served, il would be sufficient answer to
such enquiries, and nigh, prove the most
important benefit to the agriculture of the
South. During this winler,I have seen
bundles of northern hay brought to the
stables of my ueighbors, which had paid
for carriage many hundred miles round
the capeS of Florida, through The Gulf of
Mexico, aud five hundred miles (by The
course OF the river) 10 the interior. THIS
is standing reproach tu the agriculture OF
the South.
Lucerne.-This is found 10 grow we'll
here. Sow il in drills. in the early par, of
the fall, 25 to % inches apart it flourish
es. yields four or five cuttings in the course
Of the year; and on soil which would
bring 20 bushels of corn to the acre, glow
one foot and half high. This season.
some was cut on the 18th OF March, for
soilng. and was then from a foot 10 knee
high. The most oft has been cut twice
over, since the first cutting, 10 this day,
May l3. Cattle and horses ca, il greedily !;
a COW, fed on it chiefly, is yielding at This
time between five aud elk gallons of milk
daily; when as yet there is no grass in the
woods or on the common, sufli len! To
change the poverty stricken appearance of
the cattle in the rauge.' have made no
hay from it, but have no doubt it will make
good hay.
Guinea drass.-The root is similar to
that OF the cane or reed, and is perennial.
The stem and blade are like those of The
Egyptian hlillet. On rich soil il is very
luxurious, yielding many cuttiugs in The
course of the lear 1t is good for soiling
horses and cattle eat it readily, aud If
the grou d is made loose by plowlng
abuudantly, of which cattle feed greedily
10 winter Horses do not seem TO like the
hay. II is mostreadIly grogagated by The
root. A small ROOF, Two inches long, with
one or more joiuts TO it, will vegeta,e and
81 Tue ground is made loose by blowing
once or twice during the season after
planting, roofs placed IN checks of four
feet will take complete possession of the
soss Jor the season; 80 that the next spring
1t will stariup evenly over The soil every
where. Hogs root after them with great
oagernessi aud as the tendency of this plant
is TO till the ground with roots in so thick
mat that the grass does not grow tall in
consequence; the idea suggested itself of
pasturlng cattle on this grass 10 the spring
aud summer, and giving the hogs the ben.
fit OF the roots in the wIuIer. They can
not destroy 1t, the Smallest fibre left in the
ground will grow. 1t might be great
pest in garden, but if land is TO be used
tor Stock it will lake aud maintain entire
possession to The exclusion Of any compel.
ltor which we have IN middle Alabama.
Clover and Herds Grass.--l have now
beautiful lot OF these grasses in co1Juuc.
tlon. on high land The whole about knee
bigh. and The clover 10 flower. Mr.. Klrkby,
one OF my neighbors, cut the wood rom a
piece OF low, pipe clay, craw6sh laud. last
winter; aud when the brush, &c. lying Oh
the ground. had become sufficiently dry,
hesea FIRE 10 it and burn,is all of; thus