San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1881-10-27
Bermuda Grassin the South:

|
Is Il Bermuda Grassin the South..-
Seventy years ago my father lived
one mile end Q half from Powerton,
Ga, on the road thence to Greensboro.
The house and kitchen yard were about
100 yards from the road, and two acres
intervening between the yard gate and
the outer gate. The yard was near an
acre. set With young forest growth, aex-
cept on the northeast corner, where mo
trees grew. d .oio- w sol fsa aeipulG
About April, seventy years ago, my
father returned one evening from Spar
ia. after serving asi Grand Juror.
Horseback was the only style Of travel
in those days, with saddle bags for his
wardrobe He had been gone a, long
time, three days and two nights, to at
tend court; and stayed until it adjourn
ed. "A long journey, thirteen miles. "a
great accession and d grand business.
\ All glad to see him, just Of night, wife,
mother and children 4 was one of
.tthese; I remember it well; just II
fyears old.
l% In he came, saddle bags on his arm,
sat down saddle bags between his feet,
said urtswas0yer, began to.dSax the
strap witt; the brass hasp thasxclosed
the open sdgsd the bags at the-mid-
Idle. Nsxtopd around, on tiffoe, to
see hatwould come out. A-ginger.
cake, we thought, but dare not, ask.
One would be "a thrip, two for seven
pence, and four for pistereen. Yes,
four, we Thought; there were four Of
us. But nosthe saddle bags opened,
out came q paper bundle about the size
Of a quart pot. s.,,s..@ .-.''.
i Here, said pa to ma, is wonderful
thing for the yard, Bermuda grass. a
! friend gave me the roots. Here" they
are, and we will set the yard andsneed
4 no more mats. This was the first OF
Bermu de- grass,in that region, seventy
years ago. Itwas not seen or heard
of before. II was new to every one.
! Next day. the ploaghs were set going
in the yard, ploughing and cross
ploughing. The ground was then .1. rak-
i ed over and checked with scooter.
two feet each way, and one sprig put in
each check most carefnllys ~ g q .
j 1t all grew readily, end in two years
il covered the yard ana was feeling its
way to the garden in the rear, and the
big gate on the road. There was no
stopping it, Cattle. hogs, and sheep
would carry.it in their feet everywhere
they went. .,.., =;
For the next four years I observed q;
the progressof Bermuda, grass. II then ~ q
had never seen it elsewhere, but since
have reason to believe that about this
time it had been introduced in Greene,
Oglethrope and Wilkes countless
In 1917, sixty-four years ago, went
to Franklin college. DR.. Findley died,
and Twas transferred to- South Caro-
lima college, Columbia. Coming home
at intervals, I noticed the progress Of
Bermuda grass at and around my faith,
4 er's house. ID ~ ssissbEts J
In December, 1919, I returned from
college, this grass had taken possession
of my. fathers plantation, had gone
into the public highway, and was NOV
ing toward Powelton and Greensboro.
4 This was sixty years ago, and eight
wears from the time it was brought TO
my fathers house, sg u,
have not seen that locality since.
/, The people there can advise you, but
from what have seen and heard, it has
nossession to the Savannah river, to
Thomson, on the Georgia railroad, and
to the Chattahoochee west and NORTH :
In 1926, fifty.fve years ago. began
housekeeping in Eatonson, Ga, on the
lot now occupied by Mr.. Edmund Reid
The house fronted to the court house
ON the street from the church TO Mil
edeeville, seventy -fisslyasds from the
south of this street. oTheo garden then
was where now is a commanding grPTyes
of forest trees, but then a rleh gfoqo
plentifully stocked with best vegetables
and not q tree in it. tgsss s.ss
Between the house and .street, about