The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1853-03-31
FOR THE FARMER.
Cultivation of Grasses at the South.


We take the following from DeBow's
Review: The Cultivation Of Grasses should
receive ut the South much more attention
than it has in the past. The support of
stock from the crib or granary, is an expen-
sive affair. We cannot expect Northern
grasses to thrive among us, but should adopt
those ofSouthern attitudes. DIR. Withcrs, of
Alabama, has sent lis u paper in which he
recommends the Guinea Grass as altogether
adapted to our wants:
''Tt is true, that it does not flourish in per-
retual vcrdurc here, as it does in Jamaica,
but it grows luxuriantly for eight months
i'll the ycar-and at a time when almost all
our other artificial grasses are parched up
by the heat of the sun. Being native of
the tropics, it rejoices in the genial heat of
the summers sun. Springng up in our
climate with the first harbingers of spring,
it bears repeated mowings till the chilling
frosts Of the fall. As is known to all of US,
we had OH the 7th April this year a severe
freeze, which destroyed much of our corn,
and all the cotton which WAS then growing.
The Guinea grass was at that time high ell
ough to NOW, but it was killed nearly to the
ground. Subsequently the location on which
twas grown was entirely ovcrflown. by the
unprecedcntcdly high frcshct at 50 late
season as the first OF May, and remained up
wards of week under the water from the
river; yet it has already yielded us fine
crop Of grass, and is now very nearly ready
for a second moving. 1t is frequently cut
five or six times in the course of one season
and yields Il large cup of hay each time.
During the last season, we measured small
lot in which it was growing, as accurately
as we could by stepping it off, and found it
to contain 1000 square yards, which is a lit
tile over one-ifth ofan acre. After the grass
which was cut off was sufficiently cured,
We shocked it till it was dry enough to stack
and weighing an average shock, we found
that the piece Of ground had yielded 900
lbs of hay; which, though not entirely cured
was sufficiently so to allow of its being safe
ly stored i'll a house. This would make an
acre yield nearly 5000 lbs at one cutting
This. was the second or third cutting; and it
yielded four crops, but none as heavy as the
one we tried the experiment with The soil
in which it was grown was deep sandy
loan, highly manured, and originally rich.
tits in vain to expect any land to yield SO
large crop of any vegetable product, un
less it is amply supplied with rich, stimula-
ting nanurcs.
"Ihe method Of propagating it is by the
roots, which. resemble very much the cane.
roots of the country, but moro nearly the
calamus root. In the West Indies they
propagate it by seed; but in this country,
as far as my experience extends, the seed
DO not vegetate. Iscc in some ofthe books,
however, that it is said to be raised from
seed, but that is not my experience with it.
MY original stock was brought from Virginia,
by Gen j. IT. Cooke, and Consisted of about
double handful. By bedding them in a
rich loan, we observed roots enough in the
season to, plant about an acre during the
next. As it does not propagate. itself by
seeds, and is not liable to be taken UP and
scatteredsby the birds Of the air, the wheels
ofyehicles, or the hoofs of animals, it spreads:
verysslowiy,sand may bssentirely eradicated
'byscnltiydting tile land; sor more effectualiy
ny turning hogs on it in winter, as they are
very:efond of the roots, and goIo a. great
depth to obtain them.s Itspreads, however,
gradually into the adjoining lands, andd
should not be planted neara garden. or any
place into which hogs cannotfbe turned,
when you should wish erad d1cate it. ~.
,ssFhe method of planting is.to lay off FUR.
rows about two feet apart and; ;dropI apiece
1of: :thesroot about as long as your finger. at]
two feet adistaDce,in the furrow. 5sTHis can 4
be doneat any time during tile, winter and
sit must be covered deer; aiioughsto protect
itsfrom the. cold. i a Slight worItiho ifisthe
sPtigg wall giveit the stareof the Weeds s and
grass, ahd2it Bilk soon, root ont eYeryth I'm
: else, The land on ssBliieh itdToNs Should
be- e;top4dressed with sssHgbnre tsSyerV2 2seas3n: