The Port Gibson herald, and correspondent. (Port Gibson, Claiborne Co., Miss.) 1848-18??, 1851-06-06
From the Southern Cuuiudtor.
Winter Grasses for the South.


WRITE on this subject, not 10 instruct,
but TO cali the attention of Southern pIan-
ters to the subject OF Winter Grasses, be-
lieving that if they had sufficiently reAet-
ted on tie value, all wohld be trying to
find out and establish such grasses as
would afford winter pasturage. In the
Northern States, east and west, 800 per
acre are paid for woodland to put down III
Blue grass. This is rented at either So or
81 per acre, according 10 she rate of inter-
est. 1t is known by them from long ex.
perience to be a profitable investment, as
| learn from conversations had with many
ofthese farmers, and from visiting and ex-
aminitg their farms. find about ] acres
allowed to feed one steer: then there is All
| outlay Of from 50 to $I0.50 per annum to
| feed one steer for market, and yet fortunes
are made by buying land at these prices,
and raising beef for market. ~
We at the South have no winter grasses.
We have land in great abundance, which
/, has cost US from 3 to $40 per acre. We
therefore pay rent of from Z to 20 cents
per acre, only, and yet but few Of us have
summer grass; none of us have winter
grasses with which TO feed our stock, and
to stop drafts on the corn crib. We have
stock, it is true, but for the want of grass
es, after the many and exhausting drafts on
the crib, our stock is nearly useless. One
COW well pastured on summer and winter
grass, will yield more milk and butter,
than six fed in the ordinary way. But
this is not the great item of profit; horses
and mules necessary to cultivate crop,
save at least six months feeding from the
crib; they arc made thereby more healthy
and more valuable. Let any farmer cal
culate the one half of the provender now
fed away to his plow team and OK team,
and in most instances it will compare with
the net profits of his cotton crop.
The winter grasses we have not gotten;
the northern winter grasses will not suit
our climate; then how are we TO obtain
these grasses! This is an inquiry | cam
not yet positively solve. 1t is to seek the
cooperation Of my brethren, who till the
land, that | write. That such grasses ex-
ist have no doubt--that many kinds exist
in any one climate do not believe; but
| that, at the sunny South. the ALMIGHTY
has not given as a winter grass equal to,
or surprising the bluegrass at'the North,
| cannot bring myself to believe. | have
been trying diligently for two years TO get
winter grasses-I have received many
varieties from different individuals in the
Southern States-I am giving all, at but
little cost, fair trial, at present. I have
more hopes of success from the musquit
Tor muskee1 and Oat grasses, than from
any other variety. Gould [ induce ten
other planters to join in the effort, then
|, my chance of success would be much
above ten fold. have about Is acres of
Musquit grass--I have mixed about 5
acres of this with the oat grass: both prom
Use well; but which, or whether either, will
stand grazing, remains to be tested. Ide-
sire to awaken some planters to the impors
lance Of the subject. Tc any such, will
most cheerfully furRish him with seeds of
every variety | am trying, Of which, have
any hope. For summer grass, neither
Kentucky, Ohio or any other State fur
nishes a grass SO valuable as we have.
My summer grass pasture will feed enc
cow per acre, from May till November; il
does save drafts on nv corn crib, for my
horses, every day during these months,
when not working. The Sabbath. to my
! work horses, is day of rest and day Of
feasting.
think my summer grasses save, and
are intrinsically worth to me, FIVE dollars
per acre per annum. The land cost me
50 per acre in fee. | have few acres Of
cane, which think pays me well, allow
J ing rent at SO per acre. Give me but
winter grass in sufficient quantity, and one
half the corn which | should consume
without grasses, would be saved.