Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-04-03


surprises us. We have heard at least
ono Virginia farmer speak almost IS
highly Of wiregrass IS does Mr..
PEARcE; but we had no notion thatit
wss the one thing needed TO restore
Virginia to condition of prosperity
and 10 attract settlers from without.
We should like to hear from Colonel
KNIGHT, or Colonel RuPrIN, or some
other expert, on this sabjsct:
Quincy, VA, March 81, 1885.
To tie Editor cfMe Dispdtch
Dear Sir,---I have recently moved
into the State, and have read with much
interest your article in the Weekly Of
the 9th instant under the head Of . A
Question: You say: The history
Of the world cannot produce such bar
gains for agriculturists as may be had
in Virginia lands. This state Of things
has existed for years. These bargains
have gone a-begging. Why" / think
il is because Of the want Of correct in
formation amongst the farmers of the
State as to the true value Of wire
grass" improperly so called, because
it is the genuine {" Bermuda, which
is universally considered great curse,
and as far as have been able to learn
il is without a friend in the State; but
its properties are so valuable it will
stay by its enemies until, in the course
of time, it will be the redemption OF
Virginia, il il is to be saved, of which
I do not doubt. IL it had not been that
] recognized it as the genuine " Ber-
muda,'' with which | was familiar, tbut
to be certain that / was not mistaken,
as IT was disputed by prominent
breeder Of Jersey cattle, sent some to
the Country Gentleman for identifica-
toni would not have given dollar
for the whole of Spotsylvania county
for agricultural purposes in the sense
you doubtless mean-that is, for wheat,
corn, tobacco, &c. People seem amazed
when, in reply to their question as to
what crops | am going to raise, tell
them wiregrass," and refer them to
the stock in my house-lot that have
been wintered on cornstalks and the
dead wiregrass standing in the yard.
Two aged cows. think, are
fatter than any ] ever had win
tered on cornstalks and blue
grass in Kentucky, and are fat
beeves to-day. II is conceded by all
that "wiregrass improves the soil +;
the objection to it is that it cannot be
killed by cultivation. Why kill it, if
il will produce more net money to the
acre by grazing il than anything else
that can be raised on the land? | have,
however, very little doubt that ] shall
be able to kill it if | should at any
time wish to do so. | have what is
considered one Of the best farms in the
county, and the crops Of wheat and
corn raised on it have not paid ex-
penses for some years, and why still
further impoyerish it without profit
The 'wiregass patches have fur
nished the best yields of corn and
wheat on the place, as the cornstalks
show.
know from q gentleman who owned
a Kentucky bluegrass farm, and also a
sugar plantation in Louisiana, that he
considered a forty-acre field Of his
" Bermuda in Louisiana equal to any
one hundred and twenty (l20, acres of
blue grass that he ever saw in Ken
lucky. And | think one acre Of the
"wiregrass " in my yard here will fur
nish more grazing than the best two ~
acres Of blue grass in Kentucky or
anywhere else.
If the land on the railroad between
Richmond and Washington is fair
sample Of the State, do not think
either foreign or northern emigrants
should be invited into Virginia, unless
they have means to pay for land. fences,
and live, while planting aud getting a
sod Of Bermuda wiregrass v,
and then be able to stock up with cattle
and sheep when prepared for them,
without expecting any income from the
farm in the meantime; otherwise they
are invited to certain disaster, as the
lands are too much exhausted to furnish
. living by cultivation and to be i'm
proved at the same time by poor man.
hope when the farmers meet in con-
yention at Richmond, if any Of them
have or may know any one who has
utilized :" wiregrass " for grazing pur-
poses in Virginia, that it may be brought
out, and hope you may be able and
willing to spare the time necessary to
find out all about "wiregrass " Der
muda) for the benefit Of the State at
large and especially for
Yours rcsneeffuIlv