Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1878-04-20
SOUTHERN HOME AND FARM.
Disappearance of Native GrnsseS Bnd the
Cattle Trade,

Disappearance OG Native GrnsseS Dnd the
Cattle Trade,
In the early history of the states adS
iscent 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 dwarls and dwindles
under the pressure OF close contact with
man and his methods of farming. Even
where the land is not disturbed by the
pillow, but is grazed through a 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 adapt
ed TO permanent pasturage, hence the
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 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 soone
than most of us imagine. A letter in a
recent number of the Marx Lane Elk
press, written by Mr.. W. II. Sotham,
indicates how rapidly the ranges in
Kansas are being abandoned for spsrser-
settled regions. The great cattle men
there and elsewhere are moving on with
their herds to greener fields and pastures
new. Our W correspondence from
various sections indicates the same state
of things, AS long as cattle are
subsisted alone on prairie grass,
ranges" large tracts Of land, are, of
course, 3 necessity of the business,
and these can be found in Colorado,
Wyoming, etc, for tome time to come
But this vast interest must, perforCe, in
time undergo transition, and the par
ticular class of cattle which at present
constitutes so large a factor of the live
stock trade will be 10 longer raised in
such vast numbers as now characterize
the business, and the cattle kings
who rear these immense herds on vast
ranges to supply feeders and farmers will
find their business improbable. The
change may not be rapid but it il
inevitable, aud will necessarily b(
accelerated as time rolls on,
The problem is presented, how tt
make up the deficiency which will thus
be produced. 1t is net difficult to solve
provided the farmers and s~tock-grower
take time by the forelock and, by begin
ming in time, provide pasturage wh;cl
will be permanent. 1t is not claimed tina
this method will produce cattle as cheap,
rs they are raised under the presen
system but if that system is doomed b
the operations of an inexorabl
law to pass away, it is bu
the part of prudence to make
virtue of necessity and prepare for ii
change. 1t is gratifying to know tina
to some extent, the improvement
native cattle of which the western herr
are made up, is by inlusions Of the bloc
of improved breeds. But this is not Il
greatest factor in the problem, althoug
a very important one, as the demand +
meat must go on and a better quail
required than has hitherto sufficed. II
farmers of the country especially in t
newer portions, must alternate grass wi
grain-growing, and stock-raising ent
more generally into their business tn
it now does. Grass and grain will mai
tain the fertility of the soil while CO
slant tillage will %impOverish it. t
trite adsge, " no grass, no cattle; no c'
tie, no manure ; no manure, no crops
ISIS nugget of agricultural wisdom &C
tributed long ago by the experier
of the Belgians, and corroborat
by that OF every country WHIT
man tills the soil. Grass furnish
the key to the problem, and there
none better, if as good, for this purpt
as Kentucky bluegrass. Its super
quality as a pasture grass is universe
admitted, and although it is sometir
difficult to obtain a good "catch,"
peated sowings under suitable conditi
will reward the persistent farmer W
success, When once we'll set its va
can hardly be over.estimated. Start
early in the spring and growing lux
iantly when pastured, with a thick, II
like burden of radical leaves or bla'
it makes a second growth in Septem
which continues until the gro
freezes, often growing in a favori
climate all winter. This subject is
which many of our farming frienC
hose of the newer portions of
western states especially, will do We.
give more than a passing though
Western Rural.