The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1878-04-18
Disappearance OF Native Grasses and
the Cattle Trade.

Tile OAtllt AIAuCs
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 heritage.
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 to civilization; it dwarfs and
dwindles under the pressure of close con-
tact with man and his methods of farm
ing. Even where the land is not dis
turbed by the pillow, but is grazed
through few seasons, the places that
knew the native grasses know them no
more.
The habits and characteristics of
these grasses are such that they are not
adapted to permanent pasturage. hence
the s'cattle men" seek newer districts
and ranges for their herds, But this
policy can not always prevail, for the
Time will come when the % ranges" OF
newer States and Territories will have
become eircumscribed, and there
will be no new heldS to
occupy. That time is doubtless
somewhat remote, but it may come
sooner than most of US imagine. A let
ter in a recent number of the Mark Lane
Express, written by Mr.. w. II. Sotham,
indicates how rapidly the oranges" in
Kansas are being abandoned for spars-
er-settled regions. The great cattle men
there and elsewhere are moving on with
their herds 20 greener fields and pas
lures new. Our own correspondence
from various sections indicates the same
state of things. As long as cattle are
subsisted alone on prairie grass ''rang-
es," large tracts of land, are, of course,
. necessity of the business, and these
can be found in Colorado, Wyoming,
etc., for some time to come. But this
vast interest must, perforce, IN time I'M
dergo transition, and in the particular
class of cattle which st present consti-
| tutes so large factor of the live stock
trade will be no longer raised in such
vast numbers as now characterizes the
| business, and the seattle kings" who
rear these immense herds on vast ranges
to supply feeders and farmers will md
| their business Improbable. The change
may not be rapid but it is inevitable,
and will necessarily be accelerated rs
| time rolls on.
The problem is presented, how to
make up the deficiency which Will thus
| be produced. 1t is not difficult to solve,
| provided the farmers and stOck-growerS
take time by the forelock and, by begin
ming in time, provide pasturage which
will be permanent. 1t is not claimed
| that this method will produce cattle as
cheaply us they are raised under the
/ present system; but if that system Is
doomed by the operations of an mex
orable law to pass away, it is but the
part of prudence to make virtue OF
necessity and prepare for the change.
| 1t is gratifying to know that, TO some
extent, this is now being done, in one
| direction, to-wit: the improvement OF
native cattle of which the Western herds
are made up, by infusiOns of the blood
| of improved breeds But this is not the
| greatest factor in the problem, although
a very important one, as the demand
| for meat must 90 on, and a better quail
ity required than has hitherto suticed.
| The farmers of the country, especially
in the newer portions, must alternate
grass with grain-grOwing, and stock
raising enter more generally into
their business than it now does.
Grass and grain will maintain the
fertility of the soil, while constant till
age will impoverishit. The trite adage,
"nO grass, no cattle; no cat
tie, no manure; no manure, no crops
is n 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 is none better, if rs
good, for this purpose as Kentucky
bluegrass. Its superior quality as
pasture grass is universally admitted,
and although it is sometimes difficult to
obtain good "catch," repeated SOW
! ings under suitable conditions will re-
ward the persistent farmer with success.
When once well set its value can hardly
be over-estimated. Starting early in the
spring and growing luxuriantly when
pastured, with a thick, mat-like burden
OF radical leaves or blades, it makes
second growth in September which con-
continues until the ground freezes, often
growing in favorable climate all win
ter This subject is one which many Of
our farming fricnds-those of the newer
portions of our Western States especial
/ Twill do well to give more than
passing thought.-WeSterH Rural.