The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-12-19
E ARM AFFAIRS.
GRASS CULTURE,

Standing on the pinnacle of the nine
teenth century and looking back ward.
we see the toiling masses struggling
against the consequences of many
errors. Misled by the "Ignis Fatuus"
or the all cotton craze, they have hewn
down the forests, scratched their soil,
misguided the rain water, and wrought
general devastation. Heavens great
blessing perverted, became mans great
curse. With incredible swiftness they
changed q glorious heritage into a
wide spread scene of washed and gul
lied hlllsides, and naked barren fields.
Having spent our manhood's prime in
killing grass, we now look with dismay
upon the wreck and ruin our hands
and plans have wrought. A sad and
sickening sight it is.
But with our mistakes have come
lessons Of experience, and the light Of
science. "a change ia coming over
the spirit. of our dreams Looking
around US to-day we catch the gleam
OF hope and see that advanced men are
planning better and wiser things. The
horizon Of the future glitters with
radiant stars of hopeful inspiration.
INSTEAD OF KILLING, LET Us GROW
GRASS
In our deadly foe of the past, we
may find our best friend of the future.
"Al flesh is grass, and from grass all
fl eeh is fed. Hence in killing grass we
have been destroying the very founda
ton OF permanent prosperity. We
can never become permanently pros
porous with naked hills and quilted
fields. They must be clothed with the
carpet OF verdure which nature intend
ed them to wear and Fl tied them to bear.
This il the unanimous voice OF historic
teachings. Our wonderfully varied re
sources have led us into line of policy,
tempting in the beginning, ruinous i'm
the ending.
In cattle growing we may find the
road TO prosperity. But cattle must
have food. The more abundant the
food supply, the greater profi5 there
will be in cattle raising. But the food
must not only be abundant, it must be
cheap. Hence in the production OF
cheap food lies the ultimate key to the
whole situation, Can we find and use
this key and not only permitting grass
to grow, but helping it to grow. How
shall we do thisR In several ways.
First, by removing all the stumps,
stones, brials, bushes and noxious
weeds from our pastures and hay fields.
Then run a tubsoil ploW, every twelve
inches, deep downiato the clay. Spread
manure Of any kind you have, and
supplement this with acid phosphate
and kainit, spread freely broadcast,
not in drills. II you have have no ma
nure, use more ph osphate and kainit.
Run over with light smoothing har.
row and follow with heavy roller.
Old Bermuda fields and other waste
lands treated this way will respond
mRrvellously.
ANOTHER WAY / THIS
Select any suitable field and break
the eubsoil In the fall. In April, har
row repeatedly until smooth. Grab
grass will come without seeding. But
while narrowing, work In a liberal
supply of acid aud potash, with or
without home made manures. An
other way is to foilowyour grain crops
as soon as cut with good seeding of
peas and sorghum mixed. FertiIiz9 as
above. When the peas are in pod, cut
and cure.
Thousands of acres now waste and
worH would soon be yielding hand.
some income il treated in this way.
The cost would be very little, the profit
very great. We know that it sounds
strange to many if you talk about ma
nuring grass, but it will pay better
than manuring cotton.
Old habits are hard to break. You
have go long been accustomed to kill
ing yourselves all summer killing grass
to grow clean crops to sell at less than
cost to get little money to buy some
dead grass, that it has become second
nature. But all the time you have
been crossing the order of nature. This
is by nature a grass producing land.
And a graes producing land should be
a cattle growing land.
The n there are q score OF cultivated
varieties of grass that will grow read
lily, and pay we'll for the growing:
Orchard grass, timothy, the Fescues,
Herds grass, Johnson grass, and on
and on. Let me say to every Pro
gressive Farmer reader: turn your