The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1888-10-18
HOW TO USE BOTTOM LANDS.
Col. J. Washington Watts, Of Laurens, or
fers a Remedy Against Freshets!
[ From the Cotton Plant.1

/ seat myself on this very gloomy
morning to write you the long promis-
ed article for yourinteresting paper. I
have for a long time entertained the
opinion that our people would be forced
to give up the bottom land to grass,
either for meadow or pasture; and the
late terrible freshet has confirmed me
in this opinion. And the earlier they
roe Gze this necessity the better for
The n. Many depend entirely on their
fine bottom land 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 lands were we'll set in
Bermuda or Means grass, tue crop
would have been housed before the
rains fell, at a cost of about four dollars
a ton-which would be worth from ten
to twenty dollars ton, owing to the
market. An acre of good bottom well
set will yield from one to two tons at a
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 its 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 expen-
sive crop at best. And, from the length
of time it takes to mature, it is exposed
to three dangerous seasons, May, Au-
gust 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 well filed the stock are apt
to get plenty, which is rarely the case
when the principal food is corn and
fodder. And again, all experience
proves that horses raised on grass and
hay are more valuable than when rear
ed on corn and fodder alone.
It is great mistake to assume that
the grasses can not be grown profitably
in our climate. While nearly all kinds
, do well here, there are two or three
that seem to luxuriate in this State,
and as far South as Texas, which is a.
far as have been and no better hay
grasses are known to us; and one is
pre-eminentlya grazing grass-I refer
to the Bermuda; the other is the Means
grass, which yields fine coarse hay
and yields abundantly, and is well
suited to bottom lands.
In my opinian, it would be better tc
depend on the native grasses for pas
ture and to Craze these bottom LAND
with all kinds ofstock than to continue
the present system, for many an acre
that was originally very fertile ha.
been so often plowed and then flooded
that all the soil has gone, leavingit toe
poor to grow corn. If this land wers
well set with Bermuda grass, it nigh
in few years be restored to fertility
and make pasture that would gladde1
the heart of any farmer who loves hi
stock as a farmer should.
While writing about the grasses
will put in aplea for the rag weed. Nov
is the time to cut it: and think as yor
may about it,. I know it makes US a
good hay as anything we feed.
don't except pea-vines and clover.
hope few more will try it, and b.
convinced.
J. WASHINGTON WATTS.