The Springdale news., 1889-09-13
SOUTHERN AGRICULTURAL.
Texas Blue Grass as a Southern
 Forage Crop.


 As requested, may, with the light of only four and a half years experi- ence before me with Texas blue grass, | give brief account of this valuable | grass. l regard it as one of the most substantial perennial grasses for per- manent pasture yet grown on Southern | soil.
 Five years ago l left off cotton to seek new fields and pastures verdant To accomplish this object. for which made the new departure, I sought dil- lgently for two of the most valuable perennial grasses for both winter and summer grazing grown in the South, with which to fix a permanent founda- tion to the new enterprise into which l had embarked
 The Bermuda for summer and the Texas blue grass for winter were the two upon which l finally settled.
 After having been thoroughly con- vlnced that these two grasses, furnish ing abundant grazing the year round, would, in all probability become the mudsill or basis upon which new past ures would spring into existence, I be- gan four and half years ago; l pro- | cured one quart of seed from which I made my small beginning, and with which l have been moving on in a slow 1 hurry, watching with d scrutinizing eye the conditions under which these two grasses would be most profitable, until the blue grass, at this writing, covers seven acres with promising future
 Tho stock-running capacity Of a giv- en number of acres depends entirely upon the fertility of the land and the conditions under which it may have been grown. For example, alluvial bottom, if it be well-drained and fer tilized, or any kind of upland (except stiif clay) made rich, well ll-prepared and cultivated until it gets possession of the land upon which it is planted, would make d wonderful yield quad rupling the acre upon which only ten bushels of corn could be grown. Dc plcted sandy land will grow it slowly and unsatisfactorily, finally taking pos session of the land given to it-requir- ing two years 10 do this: l have tried II under varied conditions and d varie- ty of soils, with the following results lt will grow and flourish on any kind of land (cXccpt stiff cIay) if the condi- tions indicated be faithfully carried out. That is if the land De sterile, manure it; if too wet, it should be drained. Prepare the land we'll and cultivate one season. So treated, it will have taken possession Of the land intended for it to occupy, and give abundant grazing the following winter
 It does not take to water with kind ness, but will live and grow, ultimately taking the land upon which planted, if not overhown any considerable length of time l find that it will stand the tramp Of stock az we'll as the Bermuda
 It is needless for me to say that it will stand the heat Of the sum- as 1t is wcll-known fact that it has no equal, hence the heat of summer nor the freeze of winter does it any hurt There is one pecularity of this grass about which may make mention just here. It does not make but one, and that maximum, crop of seed, after which if ceases to produce any seed at ull Nv original four acres have not produced one ounce Of seed this year, for which l like it all the better am exceedingly gratihed at the results up to date, hence can not refrain from giving to Mir. Loring my profound thanks ion having put mo on trail of this blue grass and who succinctly set forth this grass in the agricultural rel ports Of 1882 as the coming winter grass of the south.
 This grass has been grown success fully for ten or more years. hence can not be termed an experiment. J. K. Daniels, in Southern Cultivator