The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1892-01-07
~ECT-&EL'

o. a. @tl'i'EsS the pen of Maj. R.
z>e--} - - l.. Ragland, of Hy-
co, Va, in reply to an article by Prof.
w F. Massie, of the North Carolina
Agricultural College, on the subject OF
permanent pasturage and the cultiva-
ton of grasses in the South
The following IS from the Southern
Planter, over the signature Of w. +.
Massie
" Permanent pasture in the South
means either Bermuda or Broom Straw,
or usually both, no matter what sort
of mixture is sOwn. In fact, perma-
nent pastures are, in my opinion, far
from being desirable, except in good
dairy region, where natural grass lands
are found of such rocky and steep
character that permanent pasture IS
about all can be made of them, Our
mountain farmers can and must have
permanent pastures, but in all the
plain country of the South no attempt
should be made to keep land in grass
for any lengthy period on farm,
while the money crop is grain or cot
ton. Southern farmers
should grow grass, and plenty OF it,
but do not expect permanent meadow
or pasture in this climate, of grasses
which do we'll in the North. Bermuda
and Broom Straw get there every
time
Notwithstanding the opinions clearly
given in the two paragraphs above
quoted, Professor Massey writes the
following in the Home and Farm for
December Ist, in reply to criticisms
by this writer, of his published views
in The S0uthe,n Planter:
"Whv, grass with me has always
been a hobby, and for anyone in sober
earnest to say that have opposed
grassjng the hills of Virginia and
North Carolina is SO astonishing that
am inclined to think that Major
Ra9land has been imposed upon"
Prof 81. occupies half column in
the Progyfssi0e Farmer of October
Goth, in cmphatically denying that he
had ever Counseled against making
permanent pastures on the rolling
lands of the South. But, reader,
beg you 90 over again the two para
graphs taken from the Southern Plan
ter and compare them with the para
graph just quoted from Home and
Farm, and you will observe that the
astonishing thing about the latter is
that Prof NJ. should forget or ignore
his published opinion, as given in the
Planter. And yet, Professor Massey
continued to deny the plain meaning
and only legitimate Interpretation
that can attach to his published views
given by the Planter.
The English language is meaning
less if Mr.. Massey did not counsel
and advise just the opposite of what
he has written since in several journals.
He felt the keen and just criticism of
my pen on his erroneous teaching and
has set about to write it down. But
when Professor Massey convicts Pro-
fcssor Massey of error then further
criticism would seem to be a work Of
TO counteract what Prof NJ wrote
and 10 state what is true of grassing
the rolling lands of the South, as this
scribe understands this important ques-
ton, the subject will be stated under
three separate headings:
I. Every we'll informed farmer in
the South knows that our rolling lands,
after being in cultivation for time,
are best preserved by being converted
into permanent pasture and cropped
only occasionally.
?. Red Top-herd's grass-wlll
grow we'll on all the rolling lands of
Virginia and North Carolina above
and possibly over large areas in other
Southern States, where 1t makes a
close mating OF roots, bears close
grazing and is really the ideal grass
for the South, to hold the soil on the
hill sides while aifordlng good perma-
nent pasturage for stock, and holds
the fort against Broom Sedge for long
years, as fields have done for thirty
wears and more. And when overrun
by Broom Straw this can easily be de-
stroyed by following and re-plowlng,
followed by cropping for one or two
years and again reSown to Red Top.
;. But were /, impossible to grow
Red Top or any of the cultivated
grasses on the thin, sandy and slaty
rolling lands of the South liable to
wash, then is it not far better to let
Broom Sedge, Bermuda or Lespideza
or all, take hold and be permitted to
hold as permanent pasture, lands too
broken and poor for remunerating cul-
tivation, than permit them to be
washed into gullies and gals and the
soil all carried off to the bottoms and
water Conrseso
Mr.. Massey, while acknowledging
that he is sometimes afflicted with q
hobby grass, he says, is one of them),
:orgets that his last hobby is COW peas,
and he is<for sowing peas instead of
grass over the Southern soil as his sheet
anchor for correct Southern farming.
Cow peas are good in their place, and
deserve a larger place in Southern
l.,