The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1883-09-13
Fence Cutting and Its Causes


Too much has been written on this SUP.
ject by theorists without experimental
knowledge. A great deal of established
fact can be stated in few words, namely
that all who experiment for pasturage ana
hay-producing results, beyond exceptional
little spots and extra preparation, with
blue grass, timothy and red clover, Will
simply lose their labor. The same isequal'y
true Of many fruits, which belong farther
north, but for practical results are failures
here. These remarks may be hereafter dis
proven in the Panhandle. north oil latl ude
$40. South of Red river. in settled Texas,
thew are demonstrated facts. In sandy
soil, shaded by open woods, blue grass may
and has survived the summer; but as pas
turage 1t is an utter failure.
THE farmer and stock-raiser wants nay
and grass for pasturage-the best of each.
Nearly all of west, northwest. and south
west Texas is blessed with mesquite grass,
the yalue of which is known IN all those
sections. 1t also prevails ana IL ahnuaiiy
spreading in the more central portions vi
the state. If protected and allowed 10 ma
ture, It's seeds, which are ngaI auo easiy
blown by the winds, or II gathered ana 1u
diciously sown in the autumn, JUS spi ca
snonjd hs mnch more rapid 1t is short
and dense grass when fully developed, ana
affords good pasturage the whoie year, II
allowed reasonable Tune for rest anu recu-
peration at proper intervals. When IL LOOKS
to stranger like dead grass II Is OF the ma
ture Of cnred hay, and very nutritious.
Bnt in no case does it grow to q sufficient
height for hay-making.
The common grasses of the prairie iands
throughout the state, those on iefthe soiis
eeipg the best, afford good pasturase, ue-
pndent on the location, north ana south
from early in April on the coast tlll Ellieu
nv severe freezes, or successive neaVy iroSCs
IN the Wihirr. W. \ Il
for pro If, and why 50? Because they have
so often seen these grass pastures through,
out the growing season unto death ana
their places taken by thistles ana q wood'
like weed, till the prairies around towns
and in thick settlements would be denuded
Of GRASS. So have | in cases without END;
and so have | seen the famed and tena-
cious Bermuda grass, when III small
ward killed utterly by chickens plucklng
every green blade as it appeared aooVe
ground. But in Dallas and pelghooring
counties far more pleasing signt mas long
been witnessed, first in isolated ana since
in an annually increasing ratio, till time
has fnlly established the following faces
Tirst. that when grazed reasonably and al
times allowed little repose by transferring
the stock to another place or adjoining
pasturs-in other words, some. degree Of
alternation--these rich plal grasses I'M
prove by year eco alsss n weeSs
ripen, the weeds are destroyed. Will give
ar, example coming under my own observa'
ton eleven years ago and watched ior sew
eral years. A farmer of Dallas county
fenced in pasture, OF good prairie lano'
literally taken with weeds ana thlstles
rendering the first crop OF pay a!n9st
worthless, like much that Is SOLO IN Dailas
vet from unfenced and hitherto unknown
land But this gentleman moved his pas
ture twice the first year. AT such times as
to preyent seed ripeniny in both SUNNI u
l. and autumn of weeds and thlsties. i ne
second year he was rewarded with excellent
and clean hay and after that IT remained as
clean as Missouri timothy. Thisgentleman
Cedar Hill. l should ada that the aoloin-
inc pasture, until fenced and treated IN
like manner, continued to produce the
same useless crop. The same course has
been extended more or less all over tne
county with like results, till now the lltlt
bows on our streets, when nay wagons are
daily passing, mark the difference between
this clean. sweet and nutritious hay, and
that other stuff, which produces sore
mouths in cows and horses, and is often
half rejected as worthless. A mans herd
ifhe be wise, will be limited by his pastoral
capacity Tor grazing without destroying
his grass. point some Oh oni
rem find it little crampiDe
To adopt. But fate bids them TO come
down souarety to that other, and now WIS
on doctrine of fewer but larger and more
valuable animals. This must suffice on
this point.
Near the coast, besides the grasses named
and to a considerable extent the winter
mesouite which is found in spots nearly al
over the STATE, and seeds with a beard on u
in Nav as seen in the yard OF Mr.. John II
Cole near Dallas) there is rich, Droaa
bladed and vigorous grass, founu on Ianos
inclined to be moist but not marshy, com
monty known as gamana grass, put Wnetnel
CORRECTLY so called do not know. Ii LEI
oIore " crows four or five feet high and ~
Weld is enormous. II cut when about thre'
ieet high it makes juicy and tender nay
INT II allowed TO fully pen the blades De
come tough, with sharp edges ana stool
wi. not eat it. For some years II wal
and ,shisped from lndianola on re-
turning lumber vessels 10 Mobile aud Zen
ssooIa and was preferred In those place
Ia the famed hay brought down iron
Maine. IL has long been TOO closely pas
fured 10 Weld its wonted bountiful crops o
hay, but If fenced and projected 1t Will a
once re assert its power.
But aside from all these, aD'
and other native grasses, we now have
another which seems destined TO yielS
wealth. 10 our country-a comparative
steanger with the uon- BOT fnical name o
.Iohnson grass, - but | believe classed b.
some as perpetual sorghum" This gras
deserve the attention Of the people OF thi
state, and especially OF the strictly sto5k
raising portion, more 70 he west, "nere
in The long ago, some Mrs. Grundy or he
sister.in-law said 1t never rained, ana man.
from her 40 insist vet, although II produce
bigger melons, pumpkins and sweet pota
toes and taller, and sweetest sorghum thai
any other part OF the ttate. a.
The enormous yield OF Johnson grass, ~
oanecity for Welding two to clips OF hal
pCr season. dependent on location, It's rici
mesa nutrition and the greed withwhich DOLL
cattle and horses consume 10, are Tally AZ
rested after ample tests by tie most inteiii
cent. experienced and successful sgricul
furaiists in Dallas c0uniy-eh kentnck
is1,s and one born and bred where the blu
rrsss doth make men feel knightly prld'
In their fnheritance. viz. The orotDers
william and Walter Caruth, i've mile
north ~ Dallas, and Mr.. Wiliiam Little
near Hutchens. rs propagation .
essv. aud believe there ar
thousands OF. o. r pse Rr,z,9 Colo
rsdo. Red river add Wichita, sn1 their innn
-,e-,hie frioafsrips. where from tue a.luy
fel and friabie nature Of the soil y may .
rropeeated aud nec0ns seii-sDreading owe
isrte disfric.s vrino1t The expense 81 tenc
inc. rhat IL sill hynrsh thr0ngh II rem
droufh DO one sl1 dOuJt VINO sili exAinin'
il large sud ceen roots NJ II ils 1870 ~
IN a lsfe c0mm1nica In the Dalia
HrnaIp that .foT gam one sore o. y y |.
eo1eI % I've ncrrs IN blue grass IN Nm
fncFv. So Ter as sen hsve no reason =
donsf The estimate. and n this - only pr
tails trre uho en- ioresee he mieni'
wraifh u NAV avish on he stricty s'9rE
grosine fsctions = ts1as. As.saA.s n. I.