The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1895-05-17
Grasses and Rutter-Making,

The following is part Of a letter
written by NJ. A.. McClaugherty upon
the characteristics and value OF Car
pet grass, Bermuda grass and Spanish
clover.
Mr.. McClaugherty was an expert
enced stock raiser in the famous
Blue Grass country and speaks from
many years intelligent experience on
this Mississippi coast.
His statements are corrOberated by
many others and are in strong con-
trast with what is often heard from
those who assert the wOrthlessness OF
our coast lands for stock raising and
buttcr-making purposes:
II. S. Hyatt-Dear Sir.-I am in re.
ceipt OF yours, asking for an article on
the subject OF Grasses, aud the adapt
ability Of our coast country for graz
ing purposes.
take it that the practical stock
man or dairyman has little interest
in anything of a speculative nature,
but would prefer to know what val
liable grasses are here, and here to
stay.
will treat here of only three vari.
cites, and simply give my experience
Of six years with the Carpet grass,
Bermuda grass and Spanish clover.
The Japan clover would, no doubt, be
at home here, but l have had no eXpe'
rience with it.
Carpet grass, known in some sec.
tiOnS as Louisiana grass, In Others as
Sward grass, Is indigenous to the soil,
belongs to the same family of Crat
grass, the fruiting arrangements OF
the two grasses being identical. This
grass has no superior here, either
for pasturage or hay does not have
to be planted or cultivated all that
~ required Is to clear the land off ant
put the stock on, and the more tho
tramping the quicker the grass will
set II grazed to its utmost capacity
SO as to keep the weeds down, 1t will
in M season, form a practically in
de~structible soil after this it vii
take care Of itself.
Bermuda grass has long been helt
here as a prime favorite, both for hay
and grazing, but 1t must be planted
and nurscd the first season, and to ge
the best results should he well plOwet
and narrowed about every thirt
year.
The practical farmer wants to know
what amount of food these grasse
will yield per acre. What they do
would probably be the most satisfac
tory answer.
My pasture contains about % acres
set in about equal parts Of Bermud
and Carpet grass, and is now feedinI
milk cows, 8 two-year-Olds, 3 veal
lings, l bull and 2 mules and ab0u
this amount OF stock has been kept 70
nine months In the year for the pas
i've years.
The level headed dairyman want
to know what these grasses will do fO
his butter account.
have now in milk nine grade Jel
sey /; one Of the niue due to calve |
four months, two young things wit
flrst calves, and five Of the nine nurs
ing young calves. The daily rati01
for each COW Is six pounds Of mike
food, consisting of three measures c
wheat bran to one Of cotton seed mea
From the 9th Of April to the Sd {
May inclusive, my cows yielded IN
81 IA pounds Of we'll .washed, unsafe
butter.
In regard to Spanish clover, l hav
only to state that l have not teste
u for grazing purposes, but for hay
Is In every respect equal to the re
clover, but must be plOwed and we
narrowed each year, say about May
1t produces two crops a year, the se,
ond crop does not salivate like secOn
crop of clover. aud when once set a
ways set.