The Osceola times., 1878-04-20
SOUTHERN HONE AND FARM.
70 es Native Grasses ana q
Cassae rraAe.

Dasappsarsses ss Native Gras,es and the
Csssas rraAe.
In the early history Of the states ad.
jacent to the great lakes, the land, both
prairie and woodland, produced an
abundance Of wild, nutritious herbage.
With the settlement of the country these
grasses gradually failed, the result Of
Close cropping, and finally disappeared
entirely. The same thing Is noticed now
IN the states west Of US. From Iowa,
Kansas and Nebraska, where the land is
rapidly being taken up. the wild grasses
are giving out. Like the bison and the
Indian, the indigenous heritage Of the
plains and prairies does. not take kindly
10 civilization; Il dwarfs and dwindles
under the pressure Of close contact with
man and his methods of farming. Even
where the land Is not disturbed by the
plow, but is grazed through few seasons,
the places that know the native grasses
know them no more.
The habits and characteristics of these
graases are such that they are not adapt
ed to permanent pasturage, hence the
Seattle men" SEX newer districts and
ranges for their herds. But this policy
can not always prevail, for the time will
come when the ranges" OF the newer
states and territories will have become
circumscribed, and there will be no new
fields to occupy. That time Is doubtless
somewhat remote, but it may come sooner
than most Of us imagine. A letter ip q
recent number of the MarK Lane Ex
press, written by Mr.. w. H. Setham,
indicates how rapidly the ranges" in
Kansas are being abandoned for sparser-
settled regions. The great cattle men
there and elsewhere are moving on with
their herds TO greener aelds and pastures
new. Our own correspondence from
various sections indicates the same state
Of things. Az long - cattle are
subsisted alone on prairie grass,
"ranges," large tracts Of land, are, of
course q, necessity OF the business,
and tbese can Be found in Colorado,
Wyoming, etc., for ssme time 10 come.
But this vast interest must, perforce, in
time undergo transition, and the par.
ticular class Of cattle which at present
constitutes 20 large q factor Of the live
stock trade will be no lenger raised In
such vast numbers a. now characterixes
the business, and the "cattle kings +"
who rear these immense herds ON vast
ranges to supply feeders and fsrmen will
find their business Improbable. The
change may not be rapid but II ID
inevitable, and will necessarily be
accelerated ~ time rolls on.
The problem is presented, how 10
make up the deficiency which will thus
be produced. 1t Is net diflcult to solve,
provi led the farmers and stock-growers
take time BY the forelock and, BY begin.
ming. In time, provide pasturage which
will be permanent. It Is not claimed that
this method will produce cattle % cheaply
~ they are raised under the present
system but II that system is doomed by
the operations OF an inexorable
law to pass away, It is but
the part of prudence TO make q
virtue Of necersity and prepare for the
change. II Is gratifying TO know that,
to some extent, the Improvement oi
native cattle of which the western herds
are made up, Ia BY infusions Of the blood
Of improved breedr. But this 10 not the
greatest factor 10 the problem, although
q very important one, a. the demand ior
meat must 20 on and better quality
required than has hitherto sufiiced. The
formers Of the country especially 10 the
newer portions, must alternate giass with
grain-growing, and sEnck-raising entel
more generally into their business thar
1t now does. Grax aud grain will main
tain the fertility Of the soil while con
slant tillage will impoverish 1t. The
trite adsge, "no grass, no cattle; no cat
tie, no manure; no manure, no crops,
iaa nugget of agricultural wisdom con-
tributed long ago by the experience
Of the Belgians, and corroborated
by that Of every country where
man tills the soil. Grass furnishes
the key to the problem, and there il
none better, II - good, for this purpose
as Kentucky bluegrass. Its superior
quality - pa,ture grass is universally
admitted, and although 1t is sometime,
difficult TO obtain q good "catch," re-
pested sowings under suitable conditions
will reward the persistent farmer with
success. When once we'll set Its value
can hardly be overestimated. Starting
early in the spring and growing luxur.
iantly when pastured, with thick, mat
like burden Of radical leaves or blades
it makes a second growth In September
which continues until the grount
freezes, often growing in . favorabl,
climate all winter. This subject 10 ON,
which many Of our farming friends.
hose of the newer portions of ou
western states especially, will do we'll I,
give more than a passing thought.-
Western Rural.