Orangeburg times. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1872-1875, 1874-05-28
Sowing Timothy and Moving Crab
Graaq

Editor of the Rural Carolinian: I
have been requested by several planters
to report my experiment in raising grass
che past season.
Iselected I field of river bottom land
that had beer. planted in corn the pre-
vious year, and ON which the native grass
had gone to seed, after the corn had been
laid by. broke the land with two
horse ploughs in January, rolled it, so as
to break thoroughly the clods, and har
rowed once.
Just as 1 had finished this work and
was ready to SOW my grass seeds, the riv
er came out, and freshet followed freshet,
entil the land had been under water two
or three weeks. When the water left, 1
was forced TO break the laId again, as it
had been packed by the water. broke
with single horse twisters, and where
necessary / determined to plant them,
and about the middle of April sowed
my clover, Timothy. herds .and orchard
grass the land being in fine order.
From the time planted there commen-
ed drought, which lasted three or four
weeks. The seed remained in the ground
until early in May, when heavy 1all to
rain brought it up thickly, but, unfortu-
netely, the rain which brought the seed
UP, brought down another overflow of
the river, which lasted until about the
middle of May. The planted grasses and
the clover were then about one inch above
the ground, and did, not appear to be
killed by the overflow. I am sure the
clover was not injured. When the water
receded and the lands dried off, the ma
tive grasses put out, and in a short time
overrun all 1 had planted.
About the middle of July, began to
recover from my disappointment, and by
the 1st of August had au immense crop
Of crab-grass. In damp 81 os few smart
weeds started up, but 1 had them cut
down with grass blades, amp they were
followed by crab-grns. 1t raincd nearly
all through August. About the 25th
started my mower, and cut about eight
acres aday, with two mules of medium
size. The grass was from four to five feet
high, and SO dense that it stood erect after
being cut, and was compelled to keep
one prime hand behind the mower to
open the track for the mules on their
next round. ] had fifty acres in grass.
/ cut and saved Mt least 2500.O0O lbs, or
5000 lbs. to the acre. and [ am sure I
left one-third of the corp ungathered.
If the season had been favorable. I
should have finished cutting the crop by
the 10th of August, and would have had
second crop to cut by the last of Sep
tembcr. | am now baling the hay. 1
put about 400 lbs, in bale, and use
three bands of wire to bind it. The wire
cost about ten cents to each bale, which
is cheaper than hoops of wood, rs they
are put Oh very rapidly. 1 hire the
baling and pay Is GEMS for 400 lbs. Five
hands and one mule, twenty bales each
day in my cotton screw. I have been
offered one dollar per hundred for the
hay-expect to get s150 in April or May.
have no doubt that our bottom lands
will produce good crops of clover or grow
any Of the cultivated grasses. These
crops are growing north ofus and south
of us, as low down rs middle Georgia.
Planters desiring to plant grasses should
procure the pamphlet you have for sale,
entitled Grasses of The South" by c.. w.
Howard, of Kingston, Ga. The work
all the information any one could desire.
In making crab grass it is only ncces-
sary to plough, and roll, and harrow the
lands in April, May, or June. Get
teams to haul it and houses to hold it..
There is no limit to the quantity that
can be made, and the hay is good if we'll
saved.
Cash's Depot, S. G. f. B. c. CASH.
e-e,.----