The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-11-28
Bermuda Grass--Its Origin
and Value IN the South.

Ne insert an article on Bermul.
grass which gives IL HISTORY and
qualities, . that our reader.
may fully understand is na.ur,
and advantages ia connection w.,l.
stock raising. ~ also append tie
concluding remarks 81 Mr. Munro.
III the S,14. rt Ca5tfrrft.r. In r.-
gard ID "a grass called after himself.
which i represented as making a.
much IL $4,000 It's. of good forage
for stock per acre.
BEp " Rec. clinton. NJ
In the beginning Of It's letter /
desire to say that | am not enat4t-
orIng 10 create a sensation or a de-
nland for tins grass that VIII All
vance my ]pecunlarv interest. but.
on the contrary. 70 Introduce ii
grass INTO a stock country that W..
eventually prove Of paramount
value to those engaged ii such an
enterprise.
In view, then. Of these facts.
have chosen this medium to com
municate my knowledge OF Der
muda grass to those who have al
ready intimatcd their desire t. try
II, etc.
Bermuda grass, when first intro
duced into this part Of Mississippi,
was brought 10y car loads to plant
IN railroad embankments TO pre-
vent them from washing. and has
proven to be an infalIble proven
tive.
1t was imported from the Island
Of Bermuda in North America. A
geographical examination viii show
this Island to be situated in lat;-
tude So deg, and Clinton, Miss,
IN %. In view Of the fact that it
grew l%uXuriantly in a more Nor
thern latitude when It was scatter
ed on these entertainments, | am
forced to believe 1t will grow in
other more Northern States.
As a forage for stock. it is equal
if not superior to red clover, be-
cause it is of an everlasting growth,
and not quite 50 woody. 1t fur
nishes fine grazing for cattle, sheep.
hogs, ETC., during the winter IN
this climate, and with Il favorable
spring. can be moWn rs early as
April. 1t resembles blue grass in
foliage, and grows from SIX to fiji
teen inches high, and 50 dense that
it IS a difficult task to cut it with a
scythc~ 1t is 50 tenacious Of life
and of such vigorous growth that
it is regarded among some classes
of cotton planters as a great pest.
1t grows luNuriantlv III a lazy far
mer's cotton fields when the cotton
is young. and under these circum-
stances crowds it out. 1t was
brought here twenty-five years ago,
and for reasons stated above it 10
became unpopular with the more
indolent class of cotton planters,
while the industrious and success
FIJI farmers claim that it IS very
valuable. because it furnishes nu-
triti0us food for their stock, n
riches and preserves their lands.
and, when once broken, the land
will produce more cotton, corn,
etc. per acre than any other land.
Its immense yield,It rapid growth,
its nutritious properties, its endu-
rance Of cold or heat, It's ability TO
grow and spread even on our poor
est soils, while undergoing the
process of ordinary blowing, force
me to claim that it is the peer Of
any grass grown IN the South or
Southwest. Since It's Introduction
into this community it has spread
for miles north and south Of the
railroad. and now cover many
thousand acres Of valuable land. |
have received many letters pro
pounding the following interro9a-
tior : GLOW is Bermuda grass pro
paeated , VIII it grow on clay
lands :: VIII it grow III sedge, 9th
er grasses or weeds : And what
time is best to plant it = In re-
ply to these questions, | viii say
Bermuda grass is produced on the
Island Of Bermuda from seed ; but
in this latitude they do not mature,
consequently it is produced from
the roots. | have reason to believe
it Will grow on any soil that VIII
produce peas, corn, oats, wheat OF
clover. 1t may be planted in a
field of sedge, other grasses or
weeds. and it viii eventually crowd
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