The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1892-07-20
Bermuda Grass.

One of the most remarkable grasses
known to man is the Bermuda grass,
common throughout the Southern States.
Once thoroughly set it forms such com.
pact mass of roots that the washing OF
river banks and levees on which it is
planted for their protection is efectually
prevented. 1t has many a time saved
hundreds of valuable plantations from
disastrous overflow.
1t will grow on almost any soil, rich or
poor, sandy or loan, clay, or anywhere
else that its roots are dropped and cover
ed they take hold and rapidly spread; in
a short time, comparatively speaking, if
taken care of and given sunlight, will
make the finest meadow on earth. 1t
will grow in the shade to some extent but
not 30 lu1uriously as in the open mead
ON.
If not pastured-and no meadow grass
should be until after The hay is taken off
for the last time in the fall, and not then
land indeed never) in wet weather-it
will yield remarkable results in superb
hay. If desired to pasture only, it makes
the most desirable green food known to
science, containing more fattening and
strengthening elements than any green
grass ever discovered. It possesses anoth'
er valuable property, unknown to many
people familiar with it. Its closely mat
ted roots grow so dense and near the sur.
face that the largest proportion OF them
decay into vegetable mold during the
winter and early spring months, furnish
ing its own fertilizer to old WORKOUT land !;
and yet there are enough roots left to send
this remarkable plant out into the early
spring sunlight before other grass roots
come to life.
And still another remarkable fact-this
grass does not exhaust the soil by taking
its elements to sustain growth. 1t draws
its sustenance from the air-taking in the
Ito animal life) poisonous nitrogen and
converting it into food suitable for all the
beasts of the field. Instead of exhaust
ing the soil, it takes that which the soil
needs from natures great atmospheric
storehouse, and with it enriches the most
barren soils of our hills or valleys, be they
composed of poorest clay or richest sandy
loan.
Engaged in cotton planting We fear
our people have never appreciated this
wonderful forage plant, which We predict
will in the not distant future prove the
greatest boon ever known to the Southern
farmers. Driven out of the cotton busi-
ness, after desperate struggle of a qaar'
ter of century, our Southern farmers
have discovered that the longer they bow
allegiance to King Cotton the poorer
they become. They must and will change
their tactics. The limit has been reached
when the merchants of the country are
compelled in self.protection to decline
advances on cotton as they are doing IT,
year. The Southern farmer cannot dc
better, in the face of the present situa-
ton, than to begin, if even in a small
way, to get little fine live stock around
him. This can be easily cared for by
starting few acres of Bermuda grass
pasture. As the stock increases let hin
increase the sture, and then set some
of it apart for hay meadow. Once start
ed in this line his future is assured. Ber-
muda grass, fine COW or two, brooe
mare or two, some blooded sheep and
little attention will lay the foundation o
prosperity, and in fact if pursued Ions
enough will bring any small farmer
competency if not fortune ir this To-