Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1873-09-06
Bermuda Pastures.


We have so much moro land in
Tennessee than we can cultivate
from the lack of labor and capital,
and often because the surface is too
rocky, steep or too vet to plow, that
public attention is called to the
best grasses for pastures both sum
mer and winter. For simmer gra-
zing Bermuda is one Of the best if
properly managed. The agricultu-
raj correspondent Of the Memphis
Appeal, writing from Columbia in
this State, speaks of Bermuda as
" the best pasture grass in the sum
mer time," and as "growing finely
in West Tennessee" He adds
"The cid fogy notion that it cannot
be killed is exploded among intelli-
gent farmers. 1t would be well,
however, if a considerable portion
of the uplands of West Tennessee
were in Bermuda and never could
be killed, for then the land would
be more valuable" We have had
over twenty years experience in
the use Of Bermuda, and can write
with confidence of its advantages
on the farm. A prominent adyan-
tage of this perennial grass is that
it is very hardy, and Southern
plant that will stand our hot dry
summer better than any European
grass, such as the winter grasses,
blue grass, red-top, orchard-grass,
timothy, oat grass, fox-tail and the
fescues. We have tried these and
several other English grasses by
the side of Bermuda, and know the
truth of what we write. 1t is, how
ever, a mistake to depend on any
one plant for the best pasture. -
Gov. Gilmer of Lexington, Ga, i'm
proved his Bermuda pasture by rails
ing clover with the Bermuda. Iu
planting a good many acres in Ber.
} muda for pasture, we have sowr
: white clover seod on some acres
: red clover seed on others, and Ia
cerne on still more ground. Lu
cerne sends its roots very deep in
to the subsoil, and draws plan
food lover than Bermuda. Rec
! clover is biennial or lives but tive
: years, unless from shattered seed
, but lucerne lives eight or ten years
!; sometimes longer. A mixture 0
: Bermuda and luc0rne has given u
the most satisfactory results Tn
less the soil is naturally calcareous
Z it should be lined to some exten
: for lucerne or any clover. In fac
t blue grass, ard all other grasses dC
best on limestone land. Bermud,
rarely forms any seed, and the
plant is prOpagated by emitting uE
its numerous runners, and covering
them lightly with q board as one
! NAV cotton seed or corn. The
rows should not be more than som'
; thirty inches apart. Lucerne, clio
yer or any grass seed is soWn broad
cast to occupy the whole ground
till the Bermuda has time to grow
spread, and cover the earth with 8
firm turf. After William the Nor
man, his officers and soldiers, haC
conquered England, and chivalry
was In its meridian splender, IT wa
said that gentleman could be bret
from the ranks in three genera
tions, but that it took three hun
: dred years 10 mako a good gree
It sward.
i! How little do we of the Sum.
t South know of the luxury Of
{ dense carpet of vigorous, endurin
= herbage? 1t would yield IN ren
Il every year more money than wi
$ pay for the title TO our quilted an
d donuded plantations. In thirt
-s years travel and observation
d the planting States, we have neve
!, seen or heard of a Bermuda pa
~ ~ ture that failed; while Mr.. Them:
,e Affleck, a Scotch farmer of charat
's ter and science, raised in Mississil
Y pi more pounds Of geod BermuC
hay on an acre in twelve monti
than any one has ever grown in E
- rope or America of any other p
= rennial grass whatever. The mea
= ing of this is that Bermuda re
n ponds quickly and largely to m
!. - nure, or natural fertility. Its '
~ tality has great value to recuPera
~ a depleted soil and yield the MAJ
- mum of nutritious feed for far
= stock under the circumstances
L the field where it grows. If {
ed land is thin or naturally poor, SON
ne thing that will form the blood Of
vc short short-hern, mule or pig,
no not coming from sand, clay or ire
ed Bermuda or no Bermuda. But wi
he a little land plaster, bone du
wood ashes, or stable manure, a
often with few bushels of lime a
ter salt to the acre, a new and prof
la bic plantation may be called IL
on existence. The plant-food in
- acre of thick Bermuda turf, lucer
to or clover sod, is worth about Fl
lie dollars to wear out in our comm
,,lan&;nrr of aaffau 0r tOhapPO.