The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-05-18

most Importance that these facts should be
| thoroughly understood and duly appreciated
by Southern farmers in general, and a de-
termined effort be made by them toward
awaiting themselves of the vast resources
which kind Providence has placed within
reach Of them all
The paspalum grows on upland as well
as on bottom lands, but, of course, the
richer the soil the better the yield. The
only thing required is, early in April, to
pillow well and harrow thoroughly field
where this grass was mdtured the previous
year, and two cuttings may be secured with
prOpitious season. We have over 10
head Of stock on our plantation, and feed
nothing but hay of paspalum and crab
grass grown in our fields, and better hay
we could not wish to have. To see the
fields when the grass is from 21z to feet
above ground the eye is charmed with the
richness of the crop, and the heart is filled
with sorrow that grass culture does not be-
come more general in the South, if not for
cash crops, at least for our own immediate
wants
''In addition to the Bermuda and paspa-
lum, we have another grass with which
every planter is familiar, and which, in the
language of DR.. Phares, has won many
hard contest against man and beast, with
pillow and hoe, forcing the man, with
wearied brain and exhausted muscle, to
gain his bread in the sweat of his brow
That grass Is the panicum, or crab grass,
growing luxuriantly in all cotton and corn
fields and possessing nutritive ingredients
which compare most favoraby with the
best Northern grasses. This grass, cut in
bloom, makes most excellent hay and stock
are very fond of it. Not only what grows
in cotton and corn fields should be saved,
but fields where this grass matured in the
preceding year should be worked as for pas
palum, and excellent results may be OBJ
tanned.
A WEALTH IN HAY.
"In these three grasses, Bermuda, paspa-
lum and panicum, needing no seeding
yearly, and but very little work, the
south has vast wealth, provided only that
it utilizes it. Not only could we supply our
own wants, but gradually produce large
quantities for export to States where the
land IL more expensive, the seasons shorter,
and the yield not as large as ours. With an
intelligent and determined effort the South
ern States, which are now paying such a
heavy tribute to other States for hay, may
become independent of them, and the South
may find out gradually that hay, as crop,
has money value like other products Of
the soil and almost without any of their
drawbacks.
There is another thing to be considered:
All farmers who have stock to feed should,
above ALL establish winter pastures, by SOW
ing grasses that are green all the winter
and do not require to be replanted annually.
The advantage of such pastures is perma-
nent, and they save the farmer the trouble
and the not inconsiderable expense of cut
ting hay, curing, hauling and constructing
commodious barns for it, The best combi-
nation of seeds for such purpose, is probably
the following to each acre of ground:
One bushel tall meadow oats.
One bushel orchard grass
One bushel wild rye, terrell.
-Four quarts of blue grass.
WOODS PASTURES.
"Woods pastures, which correspond with
the English parks might be found very
profitable. All that is needed to convert
dead property into live capital is to thin
out the timber, leaving the trees about 20
feet apart, sparing the best. Everything
cut down should be piled and burned in as
small heap as possible to allow the ashes
TO be more evenly distributed and better
stimulate the young trees. Then the ground
may be narrowed so as to simply
loosen the surface, and just before
or during light shower sow the seeds.
No covering is needed. The same grass
seeds that have Leen recommended for win
ter pastures can be sown on this land
| Scarcely any other Improvement could add
| more to the value of a landed estate than
such pastures or parks, and nothing GER
tainly could contribute more to the general
attractiveness Of the plantation or farm.
| 1t is worthy of note that the Swiss people,
being unable to profitably cultivate their
| mountain slopes, have converted them into
pastures, and these form the basis Of their
national wealth. Why should this not be
the case, to a certain extent, at least, with
the inhabitants of the pine wood region Of
| the Southern Statesp