The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-04-25
Sowing Grass and Clover.


Growing and cultivating grass, with
our Southern farmers, is a comparatively
new departure, and we have much to
learn in this branch of our agriculture.
We need to experiment more before we
can fully understand the grasses best
adapted to our climate and soil, and the
best method of sowing and cultivating in
latitude this far South. We have rea-
son to believe that during the present
season larger area of land will be sown
to grass and clover by oae-third than in
any previous single season, and by hum
dreds of farmers who have heretofore
kept aloof from grass experiments.
By q judicious cultivation of clover
and grass, with the aid of sheep and cat.
tie, any country, however impoverished
and worn, may be made in the course Of
few years land of fertility, We SOW
our lands to grass-the grass grows with
out cultivation-its roots are ever rotting
and enriching the soil, while our stock
by their rich droppings of manure add
still more to its fertility, enlarging the
capacity of the field for production.
Thus by grass culture we are ever i'm
proving our land and providing more
food for cur stock-enhancing the value
of our farms as also reaping better profits
from our stock. No food for stock can
be produced near SO cheaply as grass,
and hence he who only keeps a few stock
should take advantage of this truth and
tighten the cost of keeping his animals,
as dollar saved is dollar made. Our
section of country for the capacity and
adaptability for the cultivation of the
largest and greatest variety of grasses
and forage plants is unequalled. We
conceive that the greatest drawback to
successful grass culture in the South
since the war by those who have expert
mented, to have been caused from bad
preparation of the land and light seed
ing, in connection with the disposition Of
the farmer to allow the young and tender
grass to be tramped too severely and
grazed too constantly and close, ere the
roots are sufficiently strong and vigorous
to secure good hold in the soil.
Of the many kinds of grasses and clo-
vers which have been tested and pro-
nounced cougenial to southern climate
and profitable for cultivation, We will
enGeavor to enumerate and comment
upon a few:
RED CLOVER,
for fertilizing purposes, is extremely val
liable, either when turned under green,
OK from the decay of its long tap-roots.
It produces fine hay, and can be grazed ;
for either or both purposes it is most ad.
mirable. 1t grows and makes good
Weld upon land of moderate fertility
clay soil is best suited to il. Any land
that produces good wheat is said to be
adapted to clover. To guard against
drought the land to be seeded should be
ploughed deep, and the seed brushed in
or rolled, the surface being level and the
soil finely pulverized. One gallon or a
little over is enough per acIe.
LUoERNE.
This forage plant is now attracting un-
usual interest in the South. 1t will not
admit of pasturage except very lightly.
The nutritive qualities of this plant are
extremely great, and stock eat the hay
with avidity, and thrive wonderfully
upon it. Lucerne is not unfrequently
used by farmers alone for soiling pur.
| poses, for which it is invaluable. The
Weld is enormous. It is a perennial ;
makes its appearance early in April and
dies down the middle of November OF
earlier, if the fall is unusually severe.
Cultivation: Make the ground as free
| from clods as possible-let the land be
such as was cultivated in a hoed crop,
say cotton. Break deep and thoroughly
"a subsoil following after two-horse
plough is recommended. At all events,
the land must be ploughed deep, that the
tap-roots may easily penetrate through
the soil, down deep enough to prevent
the scorching rays of q MONDAY sun
parching and sapping their life: The
first year lucerne is delicate and easily
destroyed, and every attention is neces-
| sary to prevent its destruction from weeds
and grass. Sow only upon rich land,
iany soil will do, so it is rich), in drills
from II to 1S inches apart. Cover light
| ly, putting ten pounds seed to the acre.
WHITE CLOVER
does well on sandy soil, and should be
sowh with other grass at the rate OF 2
quarts of seed per acre.
MEADOW oAT GRASS.
Among the list of grasses, none is at.
tracing more universal attention, and
creating more satisfactory results in the
| South than the above named. Its cultl-
yasion seems, at this period, to have been
quite limited. This is undoubtedly one oi
the best winter grasses, and, when ite
merits are better understood, will be
highly appreciated throughout the South.
ern States. The want has long been felt
in the South for a grass that would grow
upon sandy lands and furnish an abun.
dance of winter grazing, and from what
we can learn of the character of the
meadow oat, it will justify us in saying
that we believe we have discovered the
grass at last. It is claimed for this grass
that it is rapid grower, and is valuable
both for grazing and hay; that it can be
grazed from November until othel
grasses put forth in the spring. 1t is
bunch grass, and does not spread from
the roots, and therefore requires thicE
seeding, say 2 bushels of seed to the acre
ORCHARD GRASS.
Here we find another most valuable
grass. 1t comes early, it is productive
nutritious and palatable to all kinds O
stock; makes permanent pasture, bear
close feeding and is rapid grower. i
grows in tussocks, and should be sown IL
connection with other grasses. Two
bushels of seed to the acre is not tot
much. 1t is generally the case that thil
grass furnishes good grazing in this eli
mate all winter.
BLUE GRASS.
1t is now no longer question of doub
that blue grass can be grown successful!
in the cotton States. All rich lime land
will produce the finest blue grass. |
takes time to procure stand, and it il
often the case that grass sown in th'
spring will make no show whatever be
fore the following spring, and then th'
blades are hardly noticeable. Three o