The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1879-07-24
Soft Grass.


The 4merican ~4griculturtst has received
specimens of "a grass quite common IN fled-
mont Carolina, about which 1t dlscourses as
follows:
This grass is so handsome as to attract
attention everywhere. 1t grows III TUFTS, a
foot or two high, from a perennial root us
leaves and sheath are a very pale green Win
short soft hairs, %velvety to the touch. Hence
the name Of Velvet grass. those VINO
are attracted to this grass by It's snowy .aP-
pearance, are disappointed to learn that IL Is
worthless as a forage plant. The European
writers upon grasses mention 1t As a weed;
the introduction Of which into meadows and
pastures is to be avoided. This grass pre-
sents one among many instances where a
plant may be worthless III one locality; ana
Of value in another. While 1t Is stated that
animals will eat all the surrounding heritage
and leave the Nelyet-Grass untouched, we
have had letters saying that animals preferred
this to all other grasses. Both statements
are true the first has reference to localltleS
where there Is an abundance OF better grasses,
and the other from states where the grasses
are few in number and generally OF a quality
inferior to this. As we advise our trends
upon the northern border to grow crab-ap-
pies if they can raise no others, SO we say to
those living far south, raise Nelvet-Grass, II
that is the best that will grow with YOU.
But it appears that Nelyet-Grass has other
uses. In that very creditable Report on the
Grasses Of Tennessee, by Co. NlllebreW, the
State Commissioner OF AgrIcuit ire, lt Is
stated that this is unequalled as a grass Tor
lawns. 1t has been very difficult to find a
grass suitable for lawns IN the Southern
States, and should this do as well further
south as it is reported to do III Tennessee 1t
will meet with great favor. According to
the Report: "a yard turfed over with this
grass presents a most lovely appearance, and
looks as if spread with a velvet carpet.
The same Report quotes Mr.. Gregory, OF
North Carolina, In favor of its utility as a
hay crop; he says that "Orchard-Grass III
the same field Will not compare with It,.
There now comes from North Carolina a still
more important statement as to the value OF
Nelvet-Grass. Prot. \. Il. Ledoux, who Is
doing much good work as Chemist IN charge
Of the Experiment Station at Chapel Hill,
n. c., sends us an interesting letter from
one OF his correspondents one who IS evil
IDENTITY intelligent and has given much atten-
ton to the relation Of grasses to the agricul-
ture of the State. This gentleman writes in
reference to Velvet-Grass Il have come to
the conclusion that it is about the only thing
that 1t Will pay to use to recuperate the
WORKOUT lands of the South. [ believe this
grass to be very valuable on the driest
lands or on the Wettest bottoms, 1t grows
about as high as oats on the same land, and
where it is too poor for other grasses to grow.
] SOW it with Red-top on poor lands, NOW
occasionally for two or three years, and then
turn under and SOW Orchard Grass with
Glover; [ let these stand for some time, and
when they are turned under, my land will
brig eight or ten barrels of corn to the acre.
| usually keep SO acres in grass, so in corn,
and SO in cotton, rotating as the sod gets too
tough. Orcllard-Grass, Clover, and Timothy,
will not grow upon land SO poor as where
this grass (the Velvet will make a fair
crop This is a more important matter to
Southern farmers than those who have no
difficulty in raising a crop of grass can under
stand. If this Nelvet-Grass, turned under,
will prepare poor land for Orchard-Gras
and Clover, it is a great boon to Southern
agriculture, and we thank Prof. Ledoux for
allowing us to make use of the above quoted
letter in advance of his annual Report.