The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-09-11
Southern Pastures.

Throughout the whole of the United
States there are comparatively few really
good, permanent pastures, says the
Southern Live Stock Journal Few
American farmers know what a perfect
pasture is, for the single reason they've
never seen one. They are too fond of
the almighty dollar to waste money
tryin' to improve on nature" nd are too
anxious for immediate returns to be will
ing to wait for really good turf to form
But little is also known as to what are
the best varieties of grass wherewith to
make permanent and profitable
pasture, and still less as to the proper
kind and quality of manure or fertilizer
to be applied per acre annually for best
results. Too often no fertilizer of any
kind is applied. All travellers americans
included) cannot help noting the deep
verdure and luxurious heritage of the
| average English pasture. When con
| trasted with those of America the differ
ence between them is so great that it has
been supposed by many that there were
some insuperable obstacles in either the
soil or climate or both that mil
itated against our ever being
able to have truly luxurlant
turf. Again it has been thought and so
stated that the south was mo grass
country" consequently was mo country
for raising stock" and that "dairying
could not be carried on successfully and
profitably within its borders" 1t is
needless to state that the above asser-
tiOns were fallaciOus, chimera of the
brain of some disgruntled biped that have
been so often and so abundantly disproved
as to be unworthy of future notice.
The English farmers understand just
what it takes to make a good pas
tI,, 4
the proper amount of grass seed to
SOW thereon; the right kinds and
varieties of grass seed necessary for the
making of a dense, luXuriant and perma-
nent sod ; and the proper kind and guam
tity of manure to- apply for its main
tenance English farmers frequently
spend more that the whole value of an
American farm in laying down one of
their fields to grass. Whatever it may
cost, in England or the more northern
tier of states in our own country, to lay
piece of land down to grass for permanent
pasture, the cost of a really good pasture,
with turf so dense and luxuriant
as to vie with those of England
or the far-famed blue grass
pastures of Kentucky, can be throughout
the entire south had at a cost so small as
to place them within reach of the poorest.
There is a common prOverb among English
farmers that it "breaks man to make
pasture, - but it is also acknowledged that
lit makes a man to break a pasture" as
the soil returns all favors with interest.
There is nothing in our soil or climate
that would initiate against our having as
good a pasture as can be found in any
other portion of the globe. The fault
lies, not with the soil or climate or
lack of suitable grasses for the
business; but lies with each individual
southern farmer whether he will have
a really good pasture, or whether he will
be content with the poor apology for
pasture. all bushes and briars must be
kept cut down, with just enough trees
left scattered here and there over the
pasture to furnish all stock and cattle
with shade The mower should be run
sufficiently often to keep down all nox-
ious weeds. Sets of Bermuda and Texas
blue grass should be planted literally,
each in its proper season. Sets of Texas
blue grass may be planted
any time between September and
March. Plant in rows, in freshly'plowed
ground, rows % feet apart, sets 10 to
~ inches between the plsnts about ~
600 sets TO the acre.. Planted this way
they soon seed and spread, forming a com