True Democrat. (Paulding, Miss.) 1845-18??, 1846-09-09
Vol. 2No. 9
AGRIOULTURA al.
GRASSES FOR THE SOUTH.

EDITOR OF THE CULTIVATOR: our
correspondents frequently inquire respect
ing the grasses suitable to the south. If
each would communicate what lie has
observed, it would be sufficient answer 10
such inquiries, and might prove the most
important benefit to the agriculture of the
south During this winter I have seen
bundles of northern hay brought to the
stables of my neighbor, which had paid for
carriage many hundred miles round the
capes of Florida, through the gulf of Mexi-
co, and five hundred miles (by the course
Of the river) into the interior. This is
standing reproach to the agriculture OF
the south.
Lucerne. is found to grow well
here. Sow it in drills, in the early part
of The fall, "a to 81 inches apart: it -four.
ishes, yields tour to five cuttings in the
course of the year; and, on soil which
would bring twenty bushels of corn to the
acre, grows one foot and halfhigh. This
season, some was cut on the 18th o.
March, for soiIing, and was then from
foot to knee high. The most of it has
been cut twice over, since the first cutting
to this day, May 13. Cattle and horses
eat it greedily. A cow fed OH it chiefly is
yielding at this time between five and six
gallons of milk daily; when, as yet, there
is no grass in the woods or OH the common
sufficient to change the poverty-stricken
appearance of the cattle in "the range" !
have made no hay from it, but have no
doubt it will make good hay.
Guinea, grdSS.---The root is similar to
that of the cane or reed, and is perennial.
The stem and blade are like those of the
Egyptian millet. On rich soil it is very
luxuriant, yielding many cuttings in the
course of the year. 1t is good for soilngj
horses and cattle eat it readily, and, if cut
when in flower, it makes a hay most album
dainty, of which cattle feed greedily in
winter. Horses do not seem to like the
hay. It's most readily propagated by the
root. A small root, two inches long, with
one or more joints to it, will vegetate; and,
if the ground is made loose by ploughing
once or twice during the season after
planting, roots placed in checks of four
feet will take complete possession of the soil
the first season so that The next spring II
will start mp evenly over the soft, every
where Hogs root after them with great
eagerness; and as the tendency of this plant
is TO dill the ground with roots in so thick
mat that the grass does not grow tall in
consequence, the idea suggest itself of pas
turing cattle on this grass in the spring
aud summer, and giving the hogs the
benefit of the roots in the winter. They
cannot destroy III the smallest fibre left IN
the ground will grow 1t might be grea,
pest in a garden; but if land is TO be used
for stock, it will take and maintain entire
possession, 10 the exclusion of any compe-
lilor which we have in middle Alabama.
ClOUer and herds,g7GSS. l have nowu
beautiful ltt ofthese grasses in conjunction
on high und The whole about knee high,
and the clover in flower. MIR. Kirby, ont
of my neighborS, cut the wood from t
piece OF low, pipe clay crawfish land, last
winter; and when the brush, &c, lying
IN the ground, had become sufficiently dry
he set fire to it and burnt it all of; thus
giving it top dressing ofashes. He then
sowed herds grass on the top fthe ground
without plough, harrow, or any thing q
he kind He now has most rich anG
beautiful crop of this grass growing. Il
desired, your readers may obtain further
particular OF this crop.
Leersid OrizOides, (tiee grassy This
plant so much resembles rice that only
nractsed eye can distinguish it. The
negroes on the rice plantations in Carolina
,al il 'the rice'S cousin" II will grow
wherever rice will in the irdteT, or IN any
lamp situation. Ii is found wild in all the
southern country; grows tall, seeds in .
,anice, not unlike head of oats, and vii.
yield two crops a year of choice hay.
Roots perennial
INGULAR MODE OF CHURNING
MILK
We find the following novel mode Of ehurn-
ng milk in an old number Of the Albany IN
Culuvator. II has the further attraction
{ being a Mexican mode and proves that that
'eople are more adroii 10 agricultural than il
military affairs
Many patents have been granted for various
inds Of churns in yankee lJnd, which in ma.
y cases originated from those who were &C
usomed 10 the " good old way" but II strikes
ne that the Mexican chutn beats all your
ankee inventions for ease, pleasure and saving
fftrr,r The r-rfh-H con, rv,rfrfraf~.H -