The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1879-08-21
ole and he buried by his side without one
step In advance

u W Ills SiuC WItIlOut one
step in advance.
MIR. Robt. Davidson, Of Hopewell, now
dead, had a lot of Orchard grass seeded just
below his stables. which being fortified
by the drainage of the barn yard. showed
no signs of failure during four years, yield
ing rich pasture and growing 4 to 5 feet
high when permitted to grow by the re-
moval Of his stock. The same can he said
of Lucerne. the most nutritious Of all
grasses. though not so easily cultivated. but
II seeded during September in drills and
kept cloan of weeds till it gets It's roots
fully set, will stand the effects of protracted
drouths. as its roots penatrate to the depth
OF one to two feet in the ground. An acre
or two OF either of these grasses, if prop
erly set in such soil, would supply all the
wants of most of our plantations. There
are many other forage plants recommended,
such as the German and Colder Mi'let,
Guinea, and Hungarian grasses,
but try the others first and then expert
ment with the rest afterwards. if desired.
Stock wanted to supply the needs of any
farm, cannot be proitably raised without
some such supplemental assistance. for they
should be kept in a thriving condition frcm
the time they are born till wanted for use,
otherwise # depending on the more costly
crops, such as grains. they cannot be fitted
y y" . tuO Wv HULL "a
pense. There was raised on my farms
5000 pounds of pork last year, but,
as there were no peas, no grasses or chnfas
to aid III their raising, the corn consumed
by them would have more than bought the
meat if it had been sold. No one should
keep more stock than is needed for his
immediate wants till he is we'll prepared to
support them by grass and other crops that
cost but little in their production. The
pea IS an important crop in the South, both
as forage for stock and the Improvement of
the lands, as they will grow where nothing
else will, and when turned under with the
plows furnish more to the soil than any
other vegetable, as it obtains nearly all it's
nitrogen from the atmosphere. AS Il forage
plant, 1T is superior when sowed on good
land, not too late, even now. to red clover
or anything ever tried by me, as clover re-
quires two or three years, while the pea
only one. The turnip should be seeded
extensively this fall in view of the fact they
are profitable and easy to raise, and can be
made to take the place of corn to a great
extent in feeding stock during the winter.
Yet they are greatly neglected, and even
when raised are frequently permitted to
waste in the field instead of being fed to
the stock. 1t is a strange practice. for it is
at the foundation of thh success of English
husbandry, and could be made a great
means to supplement the deficiency Of 9TH
er crops Nothing pays SO we'll according
to the capital invested as a farm systematic
cally arranged In reference to the abridge-
ment of his labor and the selection OF his
production suited to the multiplied wants
of his family. and in carrying out that
system be must spend his spare time in
redding up neglected corners, repairing
outbuildings, and covering from the wealth
er his tools and machinery rather than
wasting his hours in idle gossip at the
cross-road stores or railroad stations.-R. L.
-lcDOtreU IN Southern Home.