The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1889-09-17
THE SOUTH THE HOME OF
GRASS AND CLOVER.

Sons.
Every one interested in the advance
ment of Southern agriculture must
have noticed with much qualification
the increased attention being paid to
the cultivation and growing of forage
crops which has been taking place in
the past few years in the South. If
the prosperity of our Southern farmer
is to be placed upon a sure. basis, it
must be through diversified crops and
growing their own feed and provender
at home. 1t is remarkable the i'm
mense amount of money annually
no, we will say daily-sent out West
to buy feed-corn and hay principally
for the use of our Southern farmers.
THIS should be stopped if u South
ern farmers expect to be placed on a
sure and permanent basis Of prosper,
ity. AS the late G. w. Howard, of
Georgia, remarks: "Sound political
economy requires that the South
should raise it's own horses, mules,
sheep, cattle and hogs and produce
its own wool, butter cheese and hay.
Grass culture Is the basis of this in
dependence, and, on the whole, the
drawbacks to successful grass culture
at the South are as few and as easily
removed as in any portion of Chris
tendon" There is no county or sec
ton of the Southern States but what
can easily grow all the feed and grain
required for its use, and it only re
quires a little knowledge and expert
ment to find out what suits it best
and will produce the largest crops.
The South possesses great advantages
over the North In raising live stock,
as the winters n so short and mild
that little hay is required to be cut
and stored for their use. Indeed, it
may be said, of some sections, that it
is more necessary to cut and store
hay and provender against dry spells
in summer than for winter feed, for
the heat and dry weather are about
the only drawbacks to grass culture
In the South, and these affect summer
pasture alone. They do not affect the
hay crop, as the clover and hay grasses
are cut before the dry weather comes
on. The grass crop at the South is
not affected by dry weather one year
In twenty in the spring. The chief
danger to our Southern meadows is
too close grazing during the hot, dry
weather. The roots of grass require
the aftergrowth for protection, and
never on any account should cattle be
turned into a meadow Immediately
after cutting This is most important
If it is wished to avoid killing out
during the summers. After fall rains
set in, and cool weather begins, the
meadow may be moderately grazed
in dry but never in wet weather,
With most of the grasses this grazing
may be kept up during all the dry
weather of winter. This more than
compensates for the drought and heat
during summer, and gives advantages
which are only just beginning to be
realized
Another great argument for grass
culture is the greatly enhanced value
of the lands where it is practiced, and
to bear out this we cannot do better
than to quote Mr.. Towards remarks
on this point: 1T is a significant fact
that the rich lands in upper Georgia,
in which a mixed husbandry prevails,
have rather increased than decreased
in value since the war. The depres-
sion in price has occurred only in
lands devoted to exclusive cotton and
rice culture, both of which REQUIRE a
large amount of labor. In the South
land is very cheap, while at the North
land ranges from $50 to 5000 per
acre. We look to England, Holland
or Belgium, and find it averaging
from $500 to $500 per C Why
this difference? Is the land in these
countries better than ours? Not by
nature. If it be better it is by differ.
ence in treatment. Is their climate
better than ours? The acknowledged
superiority is on our side. Are the