The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-11-21

SOIL, btlll9 TOT tillS pun post HlOlt
available than any other for reclaim
ing our WORKOUT hillsides. 1t will
grow on any lands, but the richer
the better. 1t j. IA great protection
to the hilly lands, and if a planter
would devote them to the Bermuda
grass and their level lands only to
cotton, corn or the cultivated
crops. adopting Il mixed husbandry,
Il grand result, no doubt, would
follow in identifying his farm by
saving his lands from washing and
increasing his profits in two ways.
1t is beyond all question the best
r%enoyator Of our WORKOUT hllly
lands, for in all cases where the
grass has been eXtermlnated pre-
paratory to planting a pillow crop,
the lands are found to be greatly
enriched, no doubt owing to the
amount Of accumulated nitrogen
Gus matter. When desired 1t can
be eXtermIrated by two shallow
plOwings across each other, then
narrowed, exposing the roots to the
winter freezing and at the same
time sow any of the small grams.
After the grain is harvested then
pillow and seed down with the pea
which effectually prepares the land
for cultivation. vet some have sue
ceeded in making fine crops with
out the Intervention of the pea
crop.
There is another grass called
Guinea, which is the most nourish-
ing Of all the grasses, the most
vigorous grower, Us 1t can be cut
three times in Il year, and is rel
ished by all stocks. \ field once
set with it will furnish an unfull-
ing supply of rich food, Is not
effected by drought, nor can it he
killed by the pillow. 1t is known III
this region as the Means grass, and
is dreaded by farmers as it cannot
be destroyed by the pillow. Yet, in
Alabama. it is highly praised, the
seed viii bring So per bushel, and
is generally cultivated as provender
for their stock which is adopted as
a substitute for fodder, the taking
of which is attended with so much
difficulty in the South. The plan
adopted there by the planters is to
seed it down in some field to itself
and never permit it to seed, which
prevents its spreading, and it can
ultimately be eradicated when de-
sired by close pasturage, or turning
the field out. The seed is worth
there ST per bushel. If any one
should introduce it they should
never let it seed, as it might ruin
his farm for a time, though it does
not iniure the growth OF corn, yet
it makes its cultivation more Ia
borious. This / know from expert
ence, us | have it on my Castor
plantation. 1T is looked on with
dread by farmers generally in this
country, yet ii any one has a fancy
for raising stock us a speciality, or
as Il means to supply his farm
wants, | think he might succeed on
a plantation with 1t and other
grasses as adjuncts. There Is "a
species of Millet, called the golden
or cat tail, which is highly priced
as forage for stock. Col. Thomas,
of the Military Institute here,
planted Il lew rows of it last year,
which grew at least SIX feet high,
was cut once and then permitted to
seed. 1t is represented by him as
quite nutritious, though n its APP
pearance, 1t looks like a species Of
the broom corn or sorghum variety.
There is nothing like trying new
things on Il small scale, which may
ultimately result in finding some
thing as Il substitute for fodder.
which may aid iii establishing a
stock farm.
The fence law makes it necessary
to adopt measures to supply our
farming wants on some economical
basis. This is an age of progress
IN all departments of industry.
That interest that does not aG vance
with the improvements of the age,
which works with old tools, when
1t ought to have new ones, which
employs obsolete processes and ma
t~erIals, when it ought to have mod
ern ones, must be considered oh
solete itself and will go under on
the principle of the survival of the
httest, whether a law IN biology or
not, Is unquestionably a law in
trade and farming, so tar as profits
are involved.
If any wants to try that species
OF forage, 1t can be had OF Col.