Loudon free press. (Loudon, Tenn.) 1852-1855, 1853-10-28
guuhun fire. press.
From the Charleston Mercury.

FROM the OnarleSUOn
Rescue Grass.-Gentlemen Since the publ
cation of my article in the Mobile tribune
which you had the kindness to republish IN your
excellent journal, have obtained some lmpor-
tant facts about this very valuable species Of
grass. which did not possess at the time tn at
communication was made. In the month of
Nav or June last, l sent several specimens,
when in seed, to DR. HUGH NEIsLER, our ablest
botainst here, for the purpose of having it de-
tgrnined what was its true name and the place
of it nativity. This the DR.. could not decide,
even with the aid of all his botanical books
At my request, and in accordance with his
wish, he sent specimens of it to DR.. Torrey of
New York, the accomplished. Botainist in the
service and pay of Government DR. Torrey
wrote back the day after receiving them and
gives its true name and native place. He calls
it "Ceratochloa BreviariStata," and that it is a
native of the Pacific coast; understand him to
say that it has the largest grain of any known
species of grass-hence its great value for ma
king hay and that if climatized. twill be ex
trsmely valuable to the South. The accliuia-
ton of the seed of this grass has been success
fully accomplished, and it only needs to be
known to ensure its cultivation by every planter
throughout the country. l have also obtained
another fact about it, which | did not know
when penned the article alluded to. find
the seeds which fell to the ground when the
seeds were ripe in June last, and which were
turned under with spade in order to plant the
bed in Snap Beans, came up the first OF Sep
TENDER last. This is important, for 1t gives
over a month the start of seeds planted in the
last of September, or the first of October, which
was the period | stated for sowing them. This
wear the seeds have vegetated and grown off
beautifully over month earlier than they did
previously, which / attribute to acclmation.-
As this grass grows rpidly, you perceive that 1t
enables planter to put all his stock to grazing
upon it, so soon as his Pea fields are eaten out
which is generally in November The seeds
should be planted then at the time they ma
ture, or in other words, in June, July, or Au-
gust, as it will accelerate their vegetation, and
give the best of grazing early in November
This should be the plan after obtaining plenty
of seed. With small quantity 10 begin with
it would probably do as well to SOW in Septem-
Der or October. At the time Of sowing in
June, 1 recommend all who cultivate their grass
tn SOW along with it at the same time, crop OF
peas, and plough both under. The peas will
come up, and shade the field during summer
They protect it from washing rain. And they
give valuable food to fatten hogs, besides re-
turning large coat of vegetable manure to
surface. The grass seeds, which were sown
with them, will come up from the lst to the
18th of Semtember, and in November is ready
to receive the stock, which, by that time have
consumed the paas and grass in the corn fields.
This grass will now keep them fat trough the
winter and spring. 1t protects the field from
the wash of the heavy rains during that period.
1t enables the planter to have rich milk, thick
cream, sweet scented, and yellow butter, with
fat, tender beef, mutton, kid, pig, turkey, and
chickens, for his table. 1t will give him from
four to six tons of nutritious hay per acre, tor
his horses and mules. And, also, good coat
of manure to the field. In the spring, should
1t be desired to cultivate the field in corn or
cotton, then turn off the stock, and put in the
plows, and turn the green grass under. This
gives another coat of manure to the held. 1t
is easily done-and plant i'll will say that II
the crop is tended, as it should be, it will aston
ish all who see it, and will do to brag on. But
suppose it was not planted, and the grass fol-
lowed with the pea continued, until the third
year, do you not see, how much better 1t would
produce? Now, gentlemen, say this is the
cheapest, the easiest, the simplest, while it is
the most paying plan to reclaim exhausted
fields, and refertilize those not yet so, which
the Ingenuity of man can devise. 1t coasts
nothing, as it were, either in money, time, or
labor. 1t will restore the field, and make it
produce better than it ever did, and pay you all
the time it takes in doing it. If there is
better one would like to hear of it. This We
nv grass and the Southern pea can do, and will,
if adopted and used.
Very truly your obi. servant.
B. V. IVERSON.
P. S.-The English of its botanical name is
"short avn, horn grass" 1t takes this from
the shortness of the awns, and the points re
sembling horns. 1t is as nutritious as barley,
and stock are found of it as they are Of that
Without any reservation, 1 say that it is the
most valuable grass ever introduced in our sec-
ton, or which can be introduced. Persons
who may desire to get seed of team address me
at Columbus, Ga. (post paid,) and next year
they shall be supplied as soon as the seeds are
gathered. The price is S. for peck, which is
as much as is necessary to begin with. Their
names shall be enrolled in my book. B. vi.
N. B. This grass can be destroyed at any
stage; before seeds ripen and shed out, by plogh-
ing.
Columbus, Oct. IA, 1853.