Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-10-16
WOODLAND PASTURES.

| llere are many mllllOus VI aCioo VI
woodland in the cotton belt states, as
we'll as in the lower middle states,
which are returning no income to their
owners, who are, however, paying
taxes upon them annually. We pro-
pose to show-not suggest-how these
acres may be made profitable to their
owners, not only without destroying /;
but by improving the timber which
grows upon them. We say show, be-
cause we have seen it demonstrated in
Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina
the practicability of what we here
advise.
There is very little timber land that
has not been more or less pillaged,
either for fencing, crossties for rail-
roads, or for lumber, thus removing
much of the larger andolder trees, the
spaces between those remaining being
occupied by comparatively worthless
underground, which is yielding no
return to the owner. Now it has been
demonstrated in these states, that val
liable pastures may be made in these
forests by simply clearing out the un-
dergrowth, cleaning off the rubbish
and sowing down to grasses and clo-
vers. Five years ago we saw con-
siderable area prepared at Clemson
College, S. c., by Prof. J. S. Newman,
and sowed to red clover, orchard grass,
and blue grass, resulting in a wood.
land pasture that was admired by all
who saw it. The orchard grass is still
doing we'll, the blue grass is spreading
and covering the surface and clover
has reseeded itself, so that there is a
fair stand remaining. This combina-
ton makes almost a perfect ration for
domestic animals, the clover furnishing
the protein, and the grasses the car
hohydrates. On a portion of these
lands some timothy, herdgrass, and
lucerne were sown. These have near
ly disappeared. The only serious in
termeddler is broom sedge, which is
the bane of meadows all over our
country.
Experiments were made in the
preparation of these lands as follows :
On one-third the land was plowed and
cross. .plowed with bull-tongues, one
third was plowed one way with the
same plow, and one-third simply scarf
fed with the cutaway harrow, halt
tapping and crossing in the same way.
A smoothing harrow was then drawn
over the whole surface, the seed sown
and a heavy homemade log roller
drawn over to pack the surface. The
result showed no appreciable difference
as to the effect of the three methods
of preparing the land, perfectly sat-
Iisfactory stand having been secured
over the entire area. If the trees are
not left so thick as to furnish enough
shade to prevent the successful growth
of bermuda grass before sowing the
grass and clover seed, lay of the land
in 3-feet rows and drop bunch of
bermuda every feet in these rows,
cover with the foot and tread upon
the sod. If closely pastured the ber-
muQa VIII ngnC lCS way lhlo Gun Piele
possession upon those parts which are
we'll exposed to the sun, while the
cultivated grasses will thrive upon the
shaded parts. This is we'll illustrated
upon the area described above. Not
only will the cultivated grasses and
clovers grow better in the south if
partially shaded; but our stock re-
quire shade during our long summers,
and will thrive better in partially
shaded pastures than in those fully
exposed to the sun, Notwithstanding
the fact that the herbage is more nu-
tritious in the latter.
If the plan here suggested was gen.
orally adopted in the south, and the
woodland pastures fenced so as to be
profitably utilized, not only would the
owners of the land derive profit from
what is now Improbable and expen-
sive possessions, but better stock
would be kept, harbors for destructive
insects destroyed, the face Of the coun-
try would be vastly improved and be.
ling thus made more attractive, would