Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-05-02
BOARD.
FARM AND GARDEN.
SHEEP WALKS.


A gentleman writing for the Southern
Cmtiudtor, over the signature of &C.
Brown, Spring Hill, Tenn. ," makes vslua-
BILE suggestions on tie subject of preparing
W alks and pastures for sheep. In his
opinion, eve have no lands in the South
too valuable to be sdvaptsgeously used for
sheep-none that are by nature too poor.
say by nature, because every farmer can
unfortunately remember instances of mis-
called cultivation, the final result of which
has been absolute barrenness."
One Of the best ways to counteract this
tendency TO steriity as the result Of long
cultivation in crops thst require hoeing,
like corn, cotton, and tobacco, is to raise
many sheep on both rich and poor land.
The best farmers in England make money
by producing fat iambs, choice mutton, and
several varieties Of wool-some for comb
ing and worsteds, and others for heavy
cloths. Delaine goods are largely manu-
featured, aud the demand for good blankets
for beds, heavy and light fAnnels, is in
crossing a. rapid rate. In a word, all the
produces of the sheep species, whether the
fleece be superfne like that Of the best Sax
ony and Merino, or long and ustrous like
the Cotswold, or of a medium quality like
that of the Southdowns, the clip is a prof.
table return for farm labor. The
flesh of the sheep pays when sold
for food, while the manure pro-
duced Is Itself valuable crop.
For summer grazing Mr.. Brown speaks
very highly Of Bermuda grass, which being
tropical or semi-tropical plant, does not
grow In cold weather for winter feed. But
the Tennessee farmer has at bis service
some twenty species OF excellent perenni-
al grasses from Europe, which will grow
and keep green in winter, as well as his
winter rye wheat and barley. or this
character are orchard grass, tall oas aud
meadow oat grasses, redtop snd white
top, often called herdsgrass-s. Several
species of fescue, such as sleeps fescue,
hard fescue, meadow fescue, and glaucous
fescue, timothy, meadow foxtail, aud many
others.
Our grazing resources in Tennessee and
other Southern States are really invaluable.
If we would only develop them. 1t is
simply absurd to assume that we can build
up prosperous States of white people in the
South without using the white mans Euro
pean grasses. Science tells us that all fash
is grass, no less than revelation. No where
on our planet has civilization advanced
from low to higher condition without
the assistance Of the sheep and the COW,
and the grass best adapted to their subsist-
ence and easy multiplication. Exclusive
tillage and planting reject these great sgri-
cultural powers; and lAnd-killing appears &c
view in thousands Of impoverished fields,
For this diseased condition of Southern az
riculture, there is but one remedy, which
is available; and that is to introduce all o.
the best European and American grasses
and farm stock, and substitute genuine
busbanlry for the skinning and bleeding
practice of planting labor. Our industry
should increase the fruitfulness of every
acre under the piOw, to support steadily
increasing population. To diminish The
fertility Of fields by occupying farm 20 OF
80 years, is not farming, but making des,
ert in a small way. When millions Of cul-
tivators practice the depicting system, it il
easy to see what the grand result must be
1t makes such districts and States as sen
sible families like to leave by emigration
taking tleir capital, whether little or much
their labor aud enterprise with them
Whatever tends to depopulation, natu
rally reduces values, civilization and chris
tianity. 1t is reGogression toward saysg
live. The maxim may be az old as tb
DAYS of Abraham, that, "what the hoof Q
, the sheep touches is turned to gold" Sex
ing the highest and generally the pOorei
ground 10 lie down on, digest its food, an
rest, its droppings there improve thin soil j
natures great economy. Cattle do tn
same. Hence The value OF sheep-walk
and I'll good stock pastures.