The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1900-08-17

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Col. Newman, ono Of the most dis
tlnguisbcd agriculturists of tho south,
then spoke on grasses and forage
plants. Ho spoke in part as follows:
Most grasses arc helped by being
pastured. Tho hoof tramps in tho
sprigs and they take roof. The pco.
pie of tho South have constantly
made the mistake Of trying to follow
tho North. There grasses grow with
small grain; hero it wants all tho
land. There it is winter that in.
Jures grasses; here it is the summer.
LII wo SOW grass seeds in winter we
can get hay crop the first year. and
/" crop of hay equals per acre a crop
Of grain. Ono great mistake the
novice makes Isl covering the seed
too deep. Grass seed are small and
have little power to overcome the ro-
sistanco Of tho soil, Agrain, not
enough seed nre sown. Two bushels
of orchard grass seed per aero is
about right. After the land is
thoroughly plowcd the seed should
be narrowed in, and then the soil
should bo thorough ly rolled in order
to make the ground firm and bring
the moisture up to the seed and roots.
| Another mistake is made in allowing
| the grass to get too ripo before it is
cut. Timothy hay shipped in hero is
not much better than wheat starw
because it gets too ri pc before it is
cut. If cut before it gets quite ripe
much strength that would have gono
to the seed i3 saved. Glover should
| be cut as soon as tho first seed pod
ripons. Alfalfa should be cut before
1t ripens. When German millct was
first introduced it was discarded as
almost worthless, but the trouble
was it was allowed to get too ripe
before cutting.
"The grass which is most despised
is the most valuable, the Bermuda
grass sometimes called wire grass or
grass. There is no reason to bo
afraid of planting it on tho land. 1t
can be destroyed easily by method
which will at the same time enrich
the land. Plow it up woll and SOW
two bushels Of peas to tho acre
to shade 1t during the sum-
NOR and in the fall there will be no
Bermuda. 1t is Il child of the south
and loves the SUD. There is no rea
son why any farmer Of the south
should bo without pasturage any
time of the year. Bermuda for the
summer, rye for the winter and Tex
as blue grass for fall and spring.
We fail to appreciate our oppor-
tunities. AS Sidney Lanier said,
"There is moro in the man than in
the land"
"To plant Bermuda prepare land
and plant in March. Drop the sod
and get some dirt on it either with
the foot or with plow. 1t is helped
by boiug pastured by cattle, but
sheep, hogs and horses iniure it.
Bermuda is better than rock or
brush to stop gullies. Ono thou
sand threo hundred pounds per aero
was made hero in three cuttings one
season. 1t seems to be against the
southorner's religion to fertilizo grass
but it pays, especially does orchard
grass. 1t is we'll to combine the leg
umet and firasscs. Peas and votch
do best sown with the red oat. The
oats hold up the vines.
"Alfafa is neglected in this coun-
try. 1t is perennial. 1t becomes
woody if allowed to remain too long
before cutting. 1t should be cut
when the first flower appears and
stowod away. If exposed to light
aftor curing it becomes colorless. 1t
should be sown in drills Is to 18
inches apart, and after cutting fur!
row should bo run between tho rows
and fertilizer applied. The best
time to plant ls in the fall, putting
IL pounds to the acre.
"sorghum is the BEST forage plant
we have, and will not kill cattle any
moro than peas or any othor green
food. They die from eating to much
Of it just rs from eating too much of
anything else"
| Tvorvbo1y xuoa inforoefo o1 ~ ~