The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1888-10-11
HOW TO USE BOTTOM LANDS.
Col. ). Washington Watts, Of Laurens, Of
fers Remedy Against Freshets.
Hom the Gatto,, Plant.

seat myself on this very gloomy
morning to write you the long promised
article tor your interesting paper. Ihave
for a long time entertained the opinion
that our people would be forced to give
up the bottom land to grass, either for q
meadow or pasture and the late terrible
freshet has confirmed me in this opinion.
And the earlier they realize this necessity
the better for them. Many depend en-.
tirely on their fine bottom, for the corn
and fodder to feed their stock. If they
fail in this, which they do on an average
every third year, they have their feed
to buy; when, if these lars we're we'll
set in Bermuda or Means grass, the
crop would have been housed before the
rains fell, at cost of about four dollars
ton-which would be worth from ten to
twenty dollars ton, owing to the mar.
ket. An acre of good bottom well
set will yield from one to two tons
at cutting, and often second cutting
can be had. And then the land, instead
of getting poorer by being washed
away, would grow richer by holding it's
own and catching much of what would
pass by, by the aid of the grass; and the
only chance of losing the crop is to be
caught in the rain while cutting, which
is very rare, for the crop is soon dis.
posed of and put beyond the reach of
rains.
We all know that corn is an expensive
crop at best. And, from the length OF
time it takes to mature, it is exposed to
three dangerous seasons, May, August
and September; and to lose one in three
is ruinous drawback on the profits.
But the grass will wait and take the
chance of better weather, and costs so
much less. And then, when the barn is
we'll filled the stock are apt to get plenty,
which is rarely the case when the prin-
cipal food is corn and fodder. And again,
ali experience proves that horses raised
on grass and hay are more valuable
than reared on corn and fodder
alone.
s. It is great mistake to assume hat the
grasses can not be grown pro6tably in our
climate. While nearly all kinds do we'll
here. there are two or, three that seem
to luxuriate in this State, and as far
south as Texas, which is as far as I have
been and no better bay grasses are
known to us; and one is pre- emineatiy
9 grazing graBs-I refer to the Bermuda ;
the other Is the Means grass, which
yields fine coarse hay, and yields
abundantly, and is we'll suited to bottom
lands.
In my opinion, it would be better to
depend on the native grasses for pasture
and to Craze these bottom land with all
kinds Of stock than to continue the present
system, for many an acre that was orlgi-
nallY very fertile has been 80 often plow.
ed and then flooded that all theesoi has
gone, leaving it too poor to grow corn.
If this land were we'll set with Bermuda
grass, it might in few years be restored
to fertility, and make pasture that
would gladden. the heart Of any farmer
who loves his stock as farmer should. .
While writing about the grasses l will
put in q plea for the rag weed. Now is
the time to cut it; and think as you may
about it, know it makes us as good
hay as anything we feed. i don't except
pea.vines and clover. I hope few more
will try it, and be convinced.
J. WASHINGTON WATTS.
Sept. 18th, 1888.