The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1875-04-08
A Striking Argument for the Cultivation of
Grass.

Rev. u. w. HOWARD contributes Cue lolloW-
ing striking and instructive article to the cur
rent (April) number of the Rural Carotin1an
Outside of the subjects by which the stran-
ger was impressed during the recent meeting
of the National Grange, in Charleston, there
was one which escaped the general observer.
The visitors from abroad visited the phosphate
works, and were struck with their magnitude
and value But adjoining the Stono Phos-
phate works, and on the farm belonging to
that company, there was an eighth of an acre
of poor land, which, if properly appreciated,
will be CT more value to South Carolina, and
blowing capital of S400,OOO The fragment
of an acre was visited and examined by the
writer in company with Dr. St. Julien Ravenel,
the discoverer of the value of the phosphate
beds. What Charleston and the whole agri-
cultural world owe to the discoverer and the
discovery time alone will be able to tell 1t
must be estimated by millious of dollars. This
gentleman, whose modesty is equal to his merit,
has made another discovery, or rather put i'm
perfectly ascertained facts into an exact shape,
the result of which, though not so widespread
as those of the phosphate discovery, will be OF
equal value to the whole of the worn lands OF
the South
The Southern planter has dreaded Bermuda
or joint grass as pest. Whole plantations
have been sold for song because they were in
tested with it. Large tracts of land, with COM
Portable houses upon them near Charleston, are
now lying idle for the same reason. They can
not be sold for enough to pay the taxes upon
them Their owners are driven away to seek
a meagre and hard-earned subsistence by en-
gaging in mercantile pursuits, for which their
whole previous lives have rendered them un-
suited. The eighth of an acre, to which refer
ence has been made, is in Bermuda grass 1t
is poor land. The adjoining soil will not pro-
duce remunerative crop of cotton or the
cereals without heavy manuring. Last spring
DR.. Ravenel had this piece of ground we'll
torn up by narrow plough, applied fifty
pounds of ammoniated phosphate to it, then
narrowed and rolled. The result was at the
rate of ten tons to the acre of we'll cured hay.
This hay is exceeded in value by no other in
the market It is relished by horses, cattle and
sheep. Glover and Timothy both waste, as
many of the dried stems are rejected by live
stock. There is 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 sup,
piled with Bermuda grass for bedding, and
their racks we'll filled with Northern hay: The
Bermuda grass bedding was eaten up before
the Northern hay was touched. This hay was
carefully analyzed by DR.. Ravenel. The re-
suit of the analysis was an average in four cut
tings of twelve per cent. albumenoids, or flesh
forming properties, and $50 of ash or mineral
matter. The amount of ammonia was large,
the precise quantity not recollected. This
analysis shows that as animal food, and as
manurial substance, it is equal to the best, and
superior to the most of the Northern grasses.
This crop, ten tons to an acre, is enormous.
The intelligent superintendent of the Stono
works, when asked if he was sure the weight
was accurate, replied, eyes, if there was truth
in the scales" In the best hay sections of this
country, Two tons of hay to the acre is an ex-
cellent crop A meadow that will produce this
amount in the older States will usually COM
mand 5000 per acre. as the hay crop will pay
handsome interest on the sum. The average
will, however, not exceed one and half tons
per acre. Here we have ten tons to the acre.
If hay is worth in Charleston thirty dollars per
ton, and five dollars per ton is allowed for ex-
penses, we have two hundred and fifty dollars
net profit per acre. And this result from land
absolutely thrown away because it is infested
with this grass. If we suppose that there may
have been something accidental in this extra
ordinary crop of ten tons, and diminish it one
half-to five tons-this would still give more
than one hundred dollars net profit, deducting
fertilizer say eight to ten dollars.
The South labors under two difficulties. Our
accustomed crop, cotton, has become precari-
ous or when planted in our former methods,
has ceased to be remunerative. Our labor in
subordinate and unreliable. What crop will
be profitable to us, and how shall We render
ourselves independent of the negro? These are
vital questions. The writer has not approved
attempts to introduce new crops which require
much labor, as a ramie, jute, &c. This would
simply be changing Scylla for Charybdis. We
need a change which will diminish labor A
hay crop effects this dimirution. Near to a
good market on a boatable stream or railroad,
and within easy reach of cheap fertilizers, no
field CROP whether it be cotton or rice, will
yield as much clear money as hay crop. All
of these conditions are met in the vicinity OF
Charleston. Ifthat market is glutted with hay,
the West Indies are open. Hay can be prof
itaby shipped from Southern ports to the
Northern cities. This might seem to be carry
ing Goals to Newcastle. The suggestion may
be ridiculed as chmerical, yet the writer fear
lessly ventures the assertion that if the views
of this article are extensively adopted, not only
the drain for millions of dollars for Northern
hay will be closed, but the course of trade in
this important article will be changed, and
along the Southern coast we shall become ship
pers to those from whom we now buy. This
opinion is based upon the fact that at the North
they have no grasses, or forage plants, that will
produce hay in quantity and qual,sy equal to
that produced by Bermuda grass or ucerne
1t is sometimes said that Bermuda grass will
not grow tall enough for the scythe. Certainly
not on poor unmanured land, and when con,
stantly grazed by live stock But let piece OF
poor land be treated as DR.. RavenePs land was
treated, and be protected from grazing, and the
error of this opinion will quickly be apparent.
1t is, however, not tall-growing grass, but the
deficiency in height is more than made up in
density. In fact, cutting a dense Bermuda
sward is almost like cutting cheese or shearlng
Merino sheep.
Hay culture in portions of the South has
three great advantages. In sickly seasons it is
not necessary for the proprietor to live on his
land He must be present only at the time OF