The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1875-03-31
=, Bermuda Grass as a Hay Crop.
u, q L l.. I.


The April number of the Rural caro-
iinian contains u noticeable article from
the pen of Rev. G. w. Howard. 1t is an
account, with suitable reflections upon
it, of the yield in Bermuda or joint grass
of nm eighth of an acre of lnnd adjoining
the Stono Phosphate Works, near Charles
ton. The writer visited it in company
with DIR. st. Julian Ravencl. The land
is poor. The neighborinG soil will not
produce remunerltivc crop of the
cereals or OF cotton without heavy mn
nuring:
Last spring" he says, ..Dr. Rayencl
hnd this piece of ground we'll torn up by
marrow plough, applied fifty pounds of
ammoniated phosphate to it, then hnr-
rate of ten tons to the acre of we'll cured
hay. This hay is exceeded in value by
no other in the market. 1t is relisled by
horses, cattle and sheep. Glover and
timothy both waste, rs many of the dried
stems are rejected by live stock. There
ls no waste in Bermuda grass hay, as the
stems are fine and tender. The writer
was informed that on this farm (of the
Stono Company some petted mules were
supplied with Bermuda grass for bed
ding, and their racks well-filletl with
Northern hay. The Bermuda grass bed
ding was eaten up before the Northern
hay was touched. This huy was care
fully analysed by DR.. Ravenel The re-
suit of the analysis was an average in
four cuttings of II % albumenoids, or
flesh forming properties, md ESQ of ash
or mineral matter. The amount of am
| 10 10 %1,0,
recollected. This analysis shows that MS
animal food, and rs manurial sub
stance, it liz equal to the best and supc-
rior to the most of the Northern grasses.
This crop, ten tons to IN acre, is enor-
nous. In the best hay section of this
country, two tons of hay to the acre is an
excellent crop. A meadow that will pro-
duce this amount in the older States will
usually command 5000 per acre, MS the
hay crop will pay handsome interest
on this sum. The average will, however,
not exceed one and half tons per acre.
Here VIC have ten tons to the acre. If
hay is worth in Charleston $50 per ton,
and SIS per ton is allowed for expenses,
we have $3.50 net profit per acre. And
this result from land absolutely thrown
away, because it is infested with this
grass.
The facts as thus stated are vouchcd
for by the editor of the Carolinian, who
informs us, further, that four cuttings Of
this grass were made during the season.
The Significance of the discovery of this
extraordinary yield lies in the fact that
this grass is considered pest, which has
sometimes induced those who own plan
tations infested with it to sell them ut n
great sacrifice, and engage in mercantile
pursuits, for which they are untitled.
Here we have demonstration both of the
value Of the grass and Of the enormous
yield which it can be made to bring.
That being demonstrated, it is also clenr
that we have only to think IL little to dis
cover how much preferable to cotton and
other crops, which require expensive and
reliable labor, will be hay crop. Mr..
Howard maintains that all the conditions
which arc needed to make it remuneru-
tive exist in the vicinity Of Charleston.
Hay, he says, can be profitably shipped
from Southern ports to Northern cities,
Notwithstanding it would look like
| carrying conls to Newcastle. He pre-
| diets that not only will the drain for
millions of dollars for Northern hay be
| closed, but the course of trade in this
| article will he changed, and along the
Southern coast VIC shall become shippers
to those from whom we now buy. At
the North they hnvc no grasses or forage
plants that will produce hay in quantity
and quality equal to TINT produced by
Bermuda grass. According to Mr. How
ard, and he is hig! authority, it is
superior for both grazing and kny to any
of the artificial grasses, which are spwn
at heavy expense. He points ont several
other advantages. The cultivator Of IL
grass crop nced not live on his land.
| The crop cannot we'll he stolen Thou
sands Of acres on the coast and in the
interior nre already set in the Bermuda.
TO test the matter, he proposes that those
who have the grass OH their land should
| enclose, protect and fcr.iliZe small plat
and report the result. This they can do
now, this spring. We think the sug-
gestion eminently timely and wise. BY
all means, let the experiment be tried.
1t will not be costly or troublesome to
make it.
housekeeping in the Blue Grass.
"'WhO SWeepS tho room