Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1889-08-22
SOUTHERN AGRICULTURAL.
Texas Blue Grass as a Southern
Forage Crop.

As requested, may. with the light
of only four and half years expert
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 left off cotton to
seek new fields and pastures verdant.
To accomplish this object, for which |
made the new departure, / sought dill
igently 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
| had embarked.
The Bermuda for summer and the
Texas blue grass for winter were the
two upon which / finally settled.
After having been thoroughly con-
WINGED that these two grasses, furnish
ing abundant grazing the year round,
would, in all probability become the
mud-sill or basis upon which new past
ures would spring into existence, l be-
gan four and half years ago; pro-
cured one quart of seed from which l
made my small beginning, and with
which have been moving on in a slow
hurry, watching with scrutinixing
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.
The stock-running capacity of CIV
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
tilted, or any kind of upland Except
stiff clay) made rich, well-prepared
and cultivated until it gets possession
of the land upon which it is planted,
would make a wonderful yield, quad
rupling the acre upon which only ten
bushels of corn could be grown. De-
pleted sandy land will grow it slowly
and enthusiastically, finally taking pos
session of the land given to it-requir-
ing two years to do this: have tried
it under varied conditions and varie-
ty of soils, with the following results:
1t will grow and flourish on any kind
of land Except stiff clay) if the condi-
tions indicated be faithfully carried
out. That is, If the land be sterile,
manure it; if too wet. it should be
drained. Prepare the land we'll and
cultivate one season. So treated, il
will have taken possession of the land
intended for it to occupy, and give
abundant grazing the following winter.
1t does not take to water with kind
ness, but will live and grow, ultimately
taking the land upon which planted, i
not overAown any considerable length
of time. find that it will stand the
tramp of stock as well as the Bermuda.
1t is needless for me to say that i
will stand the heat of the sun, as it il
a well-known fact that it has no equal
hence the heat of summer nor the
freeze of winter does it any hurt
There is one popularity of this grass
about which may make mention jus
here. 1t does not make but one, ant
that maximum, crop of seed, afte
which it ceases to produce any seed a
all. My original four acres have no
produced one ounce Of seed this year
for which l like it all the better. | an
, exceedingly gratiied at the results VI
to date, hence can net refrain iron
. giving to Mr.. Loring my profoun
thanks for having put me on trail Q
/, this blue grass, and who succinctly Sc
forth this grass in the agricultural re
ports of 1882 as the coming winte
grass of the South.
This grass has been grown success
fully for ten or more years. hence ca
not be termed an experiment j. X
Daniels, in Southern Cultivator.