The star of Pascagoula. [volume] (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1873-1878, 1877-10-26

+mo ,,oo.' that made green shade VS. by theft door,
And bore Of golden apples wealthy store;
II Gold fruit necked rosy through.
MAJ Kindly trees, that when the children Played
honInmnn nights within their scented shade
lh"' Would freely drop their store
nr .bed with lavish grace their sweetest flowers
Tnon Young lovers in the spring-time hours,
0p"D Telling the old tale Ger:
+uo ,,oss that always thought one couple fair,
nv ased hotlple crowned with silver hair,
o"'" who held without a sigh
euoo, sessions. where clear memory Fat content,
ssrsnely satisfied with lie well spent,
And immortality.
There are two graves beneath two appie-trees-
rr a bsppy graves, made by the sweet spring breeze
With apple blossoms white;
Lapel in cool grasses when Jnne's roses hiow;
In autumn's ~splendor, or In winters snow,
Alwsysa peaceful sight.
us,muds Giass-Iis Origin and value I'm
theAOuth.
In your issue of the Weekly Courier
Journal, bearing date of the 9th inst,
appeared my letter in reply to an inquiry
made through your columns in regard to
Bermuda grass. Since its publication, !
have received n number of letters from
Kentucky, Indiana and other states,
making further inquiries relative to this
p~eerless grass, its growth, yield and ad-
ysntapes over other grasses. / have
chosen to reply to many of these letters
through your columns, inasmuch as my
attention is so closely occupied at present
a to force me to forego the pleasure of
answering many of them through the
regular channelsof epistolary correspond
ence.
In the beginning of this letter l desire
to say ! am not ~endeavoiing to create a
sensation or a demand for this grass that
will advance my pecuniary interest, but,
on the contrary, to introduce a grass into
a stock country, that will eventually
prove of paramount value of those
engaged in such an enterprise.
In view, then, of these facts, | have
chosen this medium to communicate my
knowledge of Bermuda grass to those who
have already intimated their desire to
try it, etc. =.
Bermuda grass, when first introduced
into this part of Mississippi, was brought
by carloads to plant on railroad embank.
ments to prevent them from washing,
and has proven TO be an infallible pre-
v%entive.
1t was imported from the island Of
Bermuda in South America. A geo.
graphical examination will show this
island to be situated in latitude 33 deg,
and Clinton, Miss, in so. In view of
the fact that it grew luxuriantly in a
more northern latitude when it was
scattered on the embankments, l I'm
forced to believe it will grow in other
more northern states. AS a forage for
stock, it is equal if not superior to
red clover, because it is of an
everlasting growth, and not quite 50
woody. 1t furnishes fine grazing for
cattle, sheer, hogs, etc, during the
winter in this climate, and with a favor
able spring can be now as early as April.
1t resembles blue grass in foliage, and
grows from six to fifteen inches high, and
10 dense that it is a difficult task to cut
it with a scythe. 1t is so tenacious of
life and of such vigorous growth that is
regarded among some classes OF cotton
planters as a great pest. 1t grows luxu-
riantly in a lazy farmers cotton fields
when the cotton is young, and under
these circumstances crowd it out. 1t was
brought here twenty-five years ago, and
for reasons stated above it soon became
unpopular with the more irdolent classes
of cotton planters, while the industrious
and successful farmers claim that 1t is
very valuable, because it furnishes
nutritious food for their stock, enriches
their lands, and, when once broken, the
land,will produce more cotton, cDrn, ETC.,
per acre than other land. Its immense
Yield, its rapid growth, its nutritious
properties, its endurance of cold or heat,
its ability to grow and spread eve on
our poorest soil, while undergoing the
ordinary process of blowing, force me TO
claim that it is the peer of any grass
grown in the south or southwest. Since
its introduction into this community it
has spread for miles north and south of
the railroad, and o covers many thou
sand acres of valuable land. l have re-
ceived many letters propounding the
following interro cations: " How is Ber'
muda grass p~ropagated? Will it grow
on clay lands? Will it grow in sedge,
other grasses or weeds? and what time
is best TO plant it?" etc. In reply to
these questions | will say Bermuda grass
is produced in the island of Bermuda
from seed; but in this latitude they do
not mature, consequently 1t is produced
from the roots. | have reason to believe
it will grow on any soil that will produce
peas, corn, oats, wheat or clover. 1t
NAV he planted in a field of sedge, other
grasses or weeds, and it will eventually
crowd them out; and no other Imple'
ment of less capacity than a two-horse
plow can turn over the grass cod. II
fourishes here when planted in any
season of the year, but in Kentucky,
north Alabama and more northern
states, | do not think it would grow only
when planted in spring and summer. AS
TO the advantages it has over other
grasses, | am unprepared to set forth IN
full however, | will venture to submit
a few of its claims, Q C.
First The roots are as large as wheat
straw, measuring from two to five feet in
length, running in every conceivable
direction, and in the spring when the
root joint sends out a sprig or shoot, that
portion of the root between the joint:
decays and enriches the land.
Second: Because 1t can be mown three
or four times per annum and will yield
from three to five tons of hay.
Third: 1t will enrich land and
flourish under constant pasturiug of cat
tie and sheep.
Fourth: Because it will grow unlike
all other grasses) when once planted unit
you kill it by constant blowing in mid
winter or summer.
Prior to the introduction of Bermud,
grass into this country the fearful malady
Wf r.-. l. .--.-