Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-02-05


pers only with a people who seek n
blessings of heaven in the sweat of n
face. Hence, we should impress upon o.
countrymen, and especially upon our ii
and ignorant youths, who are strapoli,
over the land seeking employmentNha
ing nothing to do-and not competent Il
any business whatever, of the matchle
worth and true nobility of the callings
industry. We might show them that min
lynne hundredths of our fathers WI
rose to opulence and honor attained evel
nigh position through tribulation. "
may assure our people that, if we came
De educated up to the working profession
and ete0dte6 to take charge of our COM
trys business, our rich domain will b
taken from us, and delivered over to
more intellectual and energetic peopl,
who will bring forth the fruits we are mr.
competent to develop or enjoy.
In discussing the inquiry as to the i'm
portance Of grass culture in Tennessee.
may be proper to give little more sys
tematle shape to our conclusions.
l. Our exhaustive system of agriculture
which cries aloud for amendment, is mainl
the result of our own ignorance and indo
| lence.
2. The general cultivation of the grasses
meadow grass, clover for restoring pool
lands, and especially blue grass, for pas
turing fiocks and herds, will prove thu
most efficient agency in bringing int
profitable employment millions of acre,
which are now almost valueless
3. While object not to the employment
OF our African friends who will heartily CO.
operate with us, or even Asiatics, if compe-
tent to perform farm labor in a proper
manner, we should strive in the first place
to awaken into life and active energy our
own native Tennesseeans. If we fail in
this effort, our country will pass into the
hands of our Japhethic brethren North and
In Europe. May Heaven save us from so
great degradation.
Next, will be permitted to call atten-
ton to
THE SOILS ADAPTED TO BLUE GRASS.
The best blue grass lands on earth, are
IN what scientific men call the SjIuTidB
system, but IN the better style of farmers.
1t IS the dark limestone soil, which is the
lowest In the series of sedementary rocks.
Most of the rich, level and slightly undu-
latlng lands of Middle Tennessee, are in
this system.
Above the Silurian we have a mora
billy, broken and a much roUgher struc-
ture, called the ''Devonisn system.
About the middle of this formation the
black slate, or luminous shale. is found
IN most of the billy regions of Middle Ten
nessee. The most valuable timbers are
found IN this structure, and from the fact
that 1t Is also rich limestone formation, it
IS well adapted to grazing purposes. These
formations constitute the main grass grow
ing, grain growing and provision producing
structures throughout the earth.
Above these, to the base of the Cumber-
and Mountain, we have lighter and more
sandy soil; not so well adapted to blue
grass; but IN many localities herds grass
Toes well, and grain and fruits abound.
cHE NECESSARY PREPARATION OF THE SOIL
FOR BLUE GRASS
Should the farmer determine to convert
lis cultivated lands into pasture grounds,
le should, IN the first place, use all pos
lble exertions to enrich every thin and !
worm spot of land. Stable manure. scrap |
ngs from the barn yard, and mould from |
he woods will answer well. Leaves and |
often wood will be of advantage.
Next, the land should be well broken. |
nd if SUBSIDIZED so much the better. If |
he purpose Of the farmer is to grow a
rop of small grain, say oats, the sowing |
Mould he performed Immediately after the |
'reaking the SOIL and next, the land /
hould be well narrowed. The grass seed
hould be sown Immediately after the |
srrowing, and a..small amount of clover
nd orchard grass might accompany the
lue grass. The clover will afford protec-
ion to the blue grass while growing, and
18th the orchard grass it will feed stock
n two years, while the blue
rass, for this purpose, will be of but
tile value. In the preparation sof
oodland for grass all trees, with leaves
Ificult of decomposition, such as black
axis, red oaks, bald oaks, Spanish oaks,
nd most white oaks, beech, large sugar
ees, etc, might be probably removed,
lille walnuts, elms, box elders, ash, hack
erries, black locusts, and all other trees
caring leaves easily decomposed, might
, retained; but not in clumps to shut out !
le suns rays. All grubs, briars and wild
'owths should be removed, and not a
G, chunk, or fiat rock should be left upon | I
10 surface. Last of all, the land should
} thoroughly narrowed. With these prep
atoms the farmer may SOW his seed in
,nfdence.
THE MANNER OF SOWING.
We must ascertain next if our seeds are
,od. This may be done by sprouting a
W in bunch of cotton half immersed in
basin of water placed in the hot sun or
the fire; or, if they will readily explode
a shovel, or any thin iron held over the
9, they may be depended upon as live
ed. AS to the quantity per acre it is
ficult to find rules. The operator {
ould see that the seeds fsll everywhere
lite as thickly as the grass is presumed
grow. A quart of clover seed should
put upon each acre of land with the
ue grass seed. On all wet spots, drains,
tches and gullies, herds grass should be
wn, both for the protection of blue grass I
d heritage for stock. {
The sowing of pasture lands may take
ace at any time from September to April.
is a good plan to SOW on snow or upon
ads when frozen. Either will secure a q
ady contact of seeds with the soil, and $
sure speedy termination. Hogs, sheep, |
Ives, colts, or any stock, on the freshly I
WI grass for ten days will be of adyan-
ye. L
AFTER MANAGEMENT OF BLUE GRASS.
From the time the seeds begin to sprout, I
a general rule, not hoof should touch
; soil, till the grass seeds, the year after a
wing If, however, rank weeds, briars a
d bushes should threaten to smother the b
lder grass, they should be removed by C
3 scythe. After the young grass makes
showing, the farmer should look to the 1
iformity of the stand. All missing places q
Guild have fresh seed; and if the too
nse shade prevents & vigorous growth, ?
reful trimming should be resorted to. t
points should be discovered too light or 9
} poor for grass, put on manure, with a q
AL amount Of lime and ashes and in the s
sence of these, coating of light brush Ii
'od will give protection. Q
To insure large amount of pastUrage, q
ISIS lands must, as in Israels prosperous S
VS. on the Jordan, have their regular |
It's Put on the stock as the grass ma
-es its seed-aimost the last of May; b
10 off the last of September; put on
ain in January, and take off again in v
lrch, and the grass will be ready again c
May. q
Keep briars, iron-weeds, bushes and
srything that grows, except your grass, 0
subieetlop, and the reward will be sure. j
THE IMPROVEMENT OF GRASS LANDS.
To afford full instructions upon this most l
portant department of grass culture. L
uld require considerable labor, and pos G
" more practical light than your humble q
possesses; and yet it is safe to say -,