The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1892-04-14
TEXAS BLUE GRASS.

Buffalo grass, commonly known
Mesquite, supplies an abundant sun
mer pasture on our open prairies, an
Bermuda grows luxuriantly througI
our long summers. But with the az
proach of winter these and other sum
mer grasses play out, and stock mus
depend upon anything that Will I'll
up. unless their owner has made pre-
vision for their wants.
Sufficient provision is seldom mad
and as a result many cattle die fron
starvation. Many stockmen .beiiev
that it is more profitable to lose Ger
tain percentage of cattle from starva
tion than incurr the expense of grow
ing, harvesting and feeding hay o.
other feed. This may be true, but doe
not justify the practice. But if grass
or other forage plant can be found tt
supply good pasture during the win
ter, then the cost and trouble now in
volved in winter feeding, will be re-
moved, and stock should, in our mild
climate, make steady growth
all the year around.
1t is claimed that Texas blue grass
-(Pou arachnifera) will supply during
winter the place filled by Bermuda in
summer. The grass is Indigenous to
the country lying between the Brazos
and Red River and though long
In n hnt a
ciated as forage plant till brought
into prominence by Mr.. Hogan OF
Ennis, Ellis county, who has spread
it's name and virtues over the whole of
the south until it is now looked like it
is necessity on every well to do
stock farm. 1t is of the same family
as the celebrated Kentucky blue
grass and is said to
be as desirable in Texas
as its relative is in Kentucky. The
following description of the grass is
culled from Mr.. Hogan's letters on the
subject:
1t blooms here about the last of
March and ripens it's seed by the 18th
April. Stock of all kinds, and even
poultry seem to prefer it to wheat,
rye, or anything else grown in winter.
It seems to have all the Characters
tics of pom pratencis, only it is much
larger and therefore affords more
grazing. Il have known it to grow ten
inches in ten days during the winter.
The coolest winters do not even
nip it, and although it seems
to die during the Summer.
it springs up as soon as the
first rains fall in September, and
grows all winter. | have known it in
cultivation some five years, and have
never been able to find fault in it.
1t will be ready for pasture in three
or four weeks after the first rains in
the latter part of August or first of
September | have never cut it for
hay. Why should man want hay
when he can have green grass to feed
his stock on?
Farmers are naturally timid about
trying new grasses after their ex-
perience with "Johnson,p but they
need have no fear of Texas blue
grass. 1t has no Objectionable
features. 1t multiplies by means of its
stolons or offshoots and rapidly forms
dense permanent sod. 1t grows
from two to three feet high, bearing
two or three leaves feet in length.
1t can be propogated from seed, but
as the seed is very light and difficult
to handle, IL has been found that it is
better to plant sets or rootlets. The
best time to plant is March and April
and every one wishing to test the
grass should at once put himself in
communication with Mr.. G.. Il. Hogan
of Ennis who handles seeds and sets,
and will doubtless give any further
information on the subject.
MUTTON AND WOOL.
There seems to be revolution in
progress in the sheep business in this
country. Up till the last year or two
sheep were raised almost exclusively
for their wool, but now their mutton
counts, and breeders are crossing the
small Merinos with the large bodied
longwooled breeds with satisfactory
results. A short time ago the Rural
New Yorker ventured the statement
that q sheep nearly all mutton and
with very little wool, is what is
wanted; but the practical sheepman
il liable to banker after the largest
amount of both.
a Michigan sheepman writes: |
have % grade Merino ewes. They
shear an average of eight pounds of
washed wool which think will pay
their way from start to finish. Two
years ago l raised Shropshire half
bloods from them and sold them for
three dollars each at weaving time.
Last year raised the same and con-
Guided to feed them through the WIN
ter. l sheared the lambs in March
getting six and one-half pounds of
wool which sold for % cents per pound,
and the lambs sold in April, when II
months old, at five cents per pound or
little over S. piece. With wool on
the free list sheepmen will find it
profitable to raise mutton as well as
wool.
VALUE OF SHEEP MANURE.
1t has been shown by analysis and
proved by experiment, that sheep
manure is one of the most valuable
fertilizers. 1t contains l per cent of
nitrogen, which is double the amount
contained in horse or COW manure. 1t
is also rich in potash. 1t is very
soluble and therefore readily absorbed
by plants. 1t may be applied to the
land at any time, but most profitably
in the fall and winter. Unlike all
other animal manures it does not carry