Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1861-08-28
For the Advertiser.
Mesquit Grass-.Its Culture, Uses, sc.
Rrncr aur o4ih 1SGl

Mesquit Grass-.Its Culture, Uses, &c.
RIDGE, Aug. oath, 1851.
Mr.. EnlroR: would have given you some
account OF tie Mcsquit Grass long ag", but J
thought letter from my brother, J. N. NORRIS,
to DR.. LEE, which was published in the Field d
Firesidc, in which he gives his experience with
this grass, the time and manner of sowing, &C.,
would meet your eye andthc eyes Of your readers,
thus surerse'ins The necessity u! my writing any,
thing on the subject lur the public. have given
directions to those gentlemen of Elgcfell w!o
have procured seed Of me, and will take pleasure
in communicating all the information have on
the subject through your columns.
am thoroughly convinced that grass culture IL
destined to be the important branch of Southern
agriculture, and from what know Of McSquit
believe it best adapted TO our climate and soil Of
any grass yet introduced. 1t is perfectly aston
ishng to see it growing here on every variety OF
soil, aforling gool grazing NIL the year. My
brother hasit in old field pino thicke.s, natural
forests, among l. cks, and branch hrttcres. :. L
have it .rowingSon highland pnnd-wtcrc L
failed to raise corn-und on poor old sandy land
that would not produce four hundred pounds seed
cotton per acre. Mine grew tall enough to cut
with scythc this year on the poorest land, and
on the pond waist high and higher, yicldingabout
four thousand pounds OF hay per mere. No doubt
some of The best lands in This District would yield
three tons Of hay and one hundred bushels seed
per acre, and have every reason to believe thero
is very little land in the District too poor for
pretty good grazing.
In this neighbOrhood there is not skcp.ic en-
this subject left The most incrciuous nyetcraro
fogy has been compelled to acknowledge the
grass. 1tis very much 10 be regretted that you
did not visit the Ridge about the lst June, when
the Mesquit was in its prime. l am also very
sorry that you struck your colors to Drs. LEE
and CLorD before you saw right here in old
EdGcfcld demonstration of the fact tia, grass
will do. But even row We could show you so,rc-
thing much better than crop grass. We have
rcallr come to the conclusion down here, that
hereafter we shall know nothing Of poor stock Of
any kind but shall rcYel in tho luxury of real
fat beef, fat mutton fat pork, plenty Of milk rich
aa cream, butter yellow as gold, and chickens and
eggs three timcsa doyj-yes, chickens too, for
they are rs fond OF and tl:iyc on Mcsquit rs much
rs any Of the grazing animals. might aid also
that honey will he one Of the delicacies to be
greatly enhanced, as vast swarms uf bees are
iouad on ,he flower Of the Mcsquit. You see there
will be no need of hunting possums in summer,
and squirrels may run on till powder gets CHEAP.
But let NE tell you chow" to. fix that lot
Break up the land rer,ly, then level with barrow
or something else, then SOW broad cast peck If
seed per acre, or more if You wish, and brush in
with very light brush. II your lot is not rich
u:ake il 80 with any kind of strong manurc you
can get, as it is probable manure Pays better On
grass than other crops. If you wish to make
woods pasture, clear out the small underground
and burn with leaves and straw on the land, apd
then prepare Us above.
On low mnist land or wood. pasture would
SOW seed in September, hut think the hot
might injure the grass just coming mp i'll open
high dry land if sown too early in the fall. Tho
sooner it is well Set however, the better the grass
for hay or grazing the first year.
believe writer's on this subject agrco that
grass should not be pasturcl on, the E:st year
::':ne however was grazed pretty close Ill lat
winter, and cannot say that it wns riuch injured
thereby. inten,l hereafter to keep stuck of tie
lots expect 10 iI,"w.
suppose have said enough for the present.
You will find that you cannot make any great
mistake in sowing Mcsqut seed If you sow
moro than peek per acre it will 'lo no harm, ard
If you should net break up the land or rush in
the see', they e"lis up and the grass docs well.
Indeed, Tcxas correspondent of tho .!""t1crn
Cu'iiro'or snys there is no need Of any prepara-
ton Of soil except the cutting down of bushes.
Yet certainly where We expect to NOV hay, the
land should b. lercic,l. &c.
Yoars, very respectfully.
W il. NORRIS.