The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1884-11-22
DESCRIPTIVE AND HISTORICAL OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
PLANTATION PRODUCTS (continued.l
CLOVER.

CLOVER.
For years previous to the war Mr. Edward p.
Johnson's 40 acre clover field in front of his resi-
dence on Lake Lee was a refreshing landmark.
During the years of go 61 62, '63 and 64 Mr.. JAS.
Archer, few miles higher up on the lake, main
tanned luxurant pasture of 20 acres of red clover,
without resolving. But the food of '65 broke the
stand, and the gem of green and clover was re-
manded to cotton culture.
MILLET.
Two crops can be raised from the same land,
sowing the second between the Goth of June and Goth
of July The yield with this kind of forage is from
9 to tons to the acre. according to favor of sea-
and strength of soil. Upon highly fertilized and
carefully prepared land as much as toas to the
acre has been turned off at one cutting. SO
erative has its culture proved that it has become to
be, in the last few years, a standard product with
planters all through the county.
SWAMP GRASS.
There is indigenous to the soil all along the Mis-
sissppi River bottom rich marsh grass styled Bull
or Swamp grass 1t comes up in the sloughs aud
ditch bottoms, and grows with great vigor especially
so in wet seasons. 1t is prospectively coarse but
sweet and juicy and bears head as rich, or richer,
in grain than millet This grass, without culture
preparation of soil, yields tons per acre. and if cut
just as the grain is in milk as the head begins to
redden, before the stalk gets hard and woody, makes
generous and appetizing forage for stock of all
kinds. Experience however, shows that by prepar.
ing the soil and sowing the seed the quantity and
quality may be both improved. BY it the low and
waste lands, generally thrown out, may be occupied
with great profit and satisfaction bale of this hay
is for exhibition at the Exposition. And the gentle
man contributing it, Mr.. Carneal wardeld who has a
large lot of stored informs that stock will refuse
other food, taking this hay when sated, in prefer
ence.
BERMUDA GRASS.
The pride of the lowand prairies is Bermuda
grass. A sward Of this delicate rich grass is easily
obtained. No amount of cold will kill it, Heat and
drought, though shortening the YIELD cannot subdue
it, and the deepest and longest floods pass away to
see it rise with increasing vigor. Experiments have
been made on large scale to establish Bermuda
meadows Mr.. j. Robb at Eggs Point, and DIR. Jas
Smith have demonstrated that ii is more profitable
than cotton. One to two tons per acre can be oh
tanned, and two to three cuttings during the season
AS pasture for mules, cattle and sheep is nimita
ble Col. Adam Bngaman, of Natchez, distinguished
on the turf, pronounced it the very best of hay fol
his race stock. Capt. w. G. Yerger is so we'll salts
fed with his experiment that he is converting arg
part of his cotton place to Bermuda meadow.
We again quote from the pamphlet referred t.
ON page 20:
'THE SOUTH AS A GRASS COUNTRY.
The usual standard authorities deny the practit
ability of establishing permanent dense sod in tn
Southern States, except in rare spots whore tn
ground is moist and shaded. Mr.. G. L. Flint goes s
far as to doubt the practcabiy of forming clos
turf south of the latitude of Batimore-forgettin
Kentucky and the Valley of Virginia, where ther
are areas of sod equal to the best in England
We also found at Greenville Winona, Starkeville an
other points in Mississippi, grass sod which, 70
density and freedom from foreign growth, we hav
never seen surpassed. At these places Bermud
grass constituted the principal sod. The Blue Gras
region of Kentucky will not be able to surpass tn
buckshot lands in the production of grass when tn
war waged upon it by the planters shall have ceaset
The streets of Greenville on the Mississippi Rivel
show close sod as can be seen on the Elkhorn !
Kentucky. This Bermuda grass was an immens
acquisition. 1t grows everywhere; bears any amour
of drought and close pasturing; is very sweet an
nutritious when young; contains IA per cent of abb
minoids, according to Dr. Raveners analysis and o
rich lands is reported to yield more hay than doe
: Timothy. The Bermuda grass will take fast hold
tho most hopeless looking gulies, and in barre
: sands where no other grass will grow; and ono
lodged it holds on and spreads, even under har
pasturing'
CRAB AND JOHNSON GRASS.
It is scarcely worth while to mention the col
crab grass of the countrythe terror of the co
ton planter in June. Its marvellous growth and il
universal spread has caused it to be alluded to Il
T fearful June rise, No grass is easier grown and it
g average in quality for hay purposes. Stock love
and thrive upon it, Its yield is large and proftabl
II is indigenous to the soil and comes like magic
" experiment has been made with the much dread,
johnson grass but as yet without profit; both b
cause it is difficult to get stand and because peop
fear to 1t. lest the seed scatter and their lan
tha 4 inn