The Bossier banner., 1891-11-12
FARMER AND PLANTER.
GRASSES.
An AIabama Farmer Writes on PrOlih
Subject.

An Alabama Farmer Writes on q Prolih c
Subject.
A correspondent writes about grass
and inquiries for the best varieties, and
as his desire to raise more stock and
less cotton is commendable and should
receive every possible encouragement,
wish to give him all the aid that my
limited knowledge and experience will
permit. For pasture nothing can sur
pass Bermuda grass. 1t is the first
grass to come in the spring the last to
leave in the fall; it is very nutritious,
makes flesh rapidly, increases the flow
of milk and the yield of butter Some
object to it because it is hard to eradi-
cate; this would not be an objection
when permanent pasture is wanted,
and as it produces no seed in this lati-
tude there is no necessity for having it
where we do not want it.
Should you wish to cultivate land that
is sodded with it, plow thoroughly and
deep in the fall, SOW in oats, when the
oats are taken off SOW in peas and the
next fall turn the land again with a
large turning-plow and the following
two years plant in cotton; this to be
followed by oats and peas, and so con-
tinue; the Bermuda will not be in the
way. Some of the best cotton that
have ever seen in this country, yielding
bale and half to the acre, was on an
old Bermuda pasture. To set the land
in this grass plow deep with narrow
twister get Bermuda sod, cut in small
pieces with hatchet and SOW broad
cast
There is a broad-leaved grass called
carpet grass that makes fair pasture
while young Another, called timber,
will also; both of these have seed. For
hay crabgrass is hard to beat. 1t yields
on upland from half ton to a ton and a
| half to the acre, on moist rich bottoms
from two to three tons A ton of it is
equal in value to ton and half of
timothy. 1t should be cut as soon as in
bloom and on good ground yields two
or three crops year.
For winter pasture Texas and Ken
lucky blue grass are the best, while
| they have seed have obtained the best
results by putting out the roots as with
Burmuda. Barley, rye, oats and wheat
all make good winter pastures if sown
early. Artic grass is now being puffed
as the best winter grass ever known,
but it is only an old grass under new
name. 1t is 4 kind of chess or cheat
and had big run at one time as rescue
grass. One agent stating that heifer
raised on this grass would have calf
at twelve months old, a mule be big
enough to plow at six months, and that
a boy baby, if rolled on this grass a
few times, at four years old, would be
able to chop an acre of cotton day,
and at five could plow. Well, they do
not tell quite as big tales now about the
arctic, but it seems to me that those
who have the>seed for sale try to make
the truth cover a good deal of ground.
Japan clover is too well known for
me to say more than that if you would
prepare the land thoroughly, make il
rich and SOW the seed about the time
for planting corn, that the yield of hay
from one acre is surprising. Album.
dance of seed can be gathered by scrap
ing up trash, dirt and seed in January
and February. While it is difficult tC
sow seed in such a condition, it can be
done and a good stand obtained.
Alfalfa, sweet clover, red and white
clover are all desirable and worthy OF
cultivation, but most of them need bet
ter land and more attention than is
usually given them in order to obtain
the best results. The time has come
when we must raise less cotton and
more grain, grass and stock. The pres
ent low price ofcotton may cause many
to be sold out for debt, but in the end
may prove blessing.-C. c. L. Dill, in
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