The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-03-12
The Grass For the Land.

The Grass For the Land.
There is great wealth in the grass crop,
whether it be in the pasture or the
meadow, SAYS the Farmers Review. More
attention should be paid by nearly every
farmer 10 The selection Of grasses adapt
ed TO MS soil h.s conditions and mis- needs
There IS very large number of good
grasses, but very few are popularity
grown The ordinary man seems to think
thai one kind OF tame grass in his pasture
is about as good as another and if one
Of the standard grasses does fairly wed
ne looks for no other. But grasses vary
greatly IN the growth they make on diff
ferem sod.s. With farms varying aH the
way from Hight sand to impervious clay
i is reasonable 10 suppose that there are
many PAGES where our commonest grasses
DO not do so wen as other grasses that
night be brought in.
or course We recognize the fact that
for hay TO be sold in the market il will
not pay to try any but the best known
grasses for the reason that the buyer Of
hay in the city is not inclined to experi-
ment with rev kinds of hay. a least not
unless he can get the new kind at a very
much lower price. But the farmer him
self is not thus circumscribed. He can
grow and feed without prejudice any new
grass.
The work being done by the government
in bringing in new grasses from all parts
Of the world Is destined to be Of great
value 10 the farmer. and the latter shouid
not be backward in awaiting himself of
the opportunities presented. A number
OF grass pots should exist on his farm,
and IN these should be grown the grasses
best reported of for MS locality. Our
practices Of grass growing are bound 10
undergo a radical change; and the future
min e4ffHll inn tbn trrra
or three kinds of grasses now being grown
than the present sees US growing the po-
n toes and cabbages that were favorites
with our grandfathers.
Different grasses use different cons:it-
uents in the soil, and on exhausted grass
land it may prove possible 90 substitute
new variety for an Old variety with ad-
vantage. Some of the new grasses nave
been brought from bands subject TO great
extremes of heat and cold and of drought,
and WIN prove especially serViceab,e on
lands that are so mechanically construct
ed that they yie,d readily to drought CON
dItions. Progress in the science of grass
growing viii come only as a result OF
many and varied experiments with all
the known valuable grasses,
How to Succeed in Growing Onions.
At the outset would like to say that
success In growing this crop Is not posi-
BILE without wen-directed effort. This
means that the soil must be well sup
piled with plant food, either naturally or
through years of manuring and fertilizng
says the American Agriculturist. l do
not mean to say that there can be no
good results where che ground has not
been especially prepared. l have succeed
ed fairly well where | have begun to fit
the ground the first season OF planting
E.tf tsrhap ie I Il
suggest a liberal application of barnyard
manure. Plow this. under deeply using
the jointer.
This is a good beginning. and when the
roots of the crop reach the manure the
plants will grow rapidly, If the ground is
fairly moist. This stable manure, however,
viii not be sufficient and it will be neces-
sary TO apply some quick-acting fertilizer.
as nitrate of soda. to the surface when
the plants most need it. Be sure to get
barnyard manure that is free from straw.
as unrotted material interferes with cult
walton. When an application of fer
tifzer is made to the surface of the soil,
it must be well worked in TO give the
plants a rapid growth,
After the ground is plowed great care
must be taken to pu,verize the surface
thoroughly, for several reasons. During
the dry season, unless the soil is well COM
pacted and finely divided, the air will get
into the upper layers and remove all the
moisture. so that there will not be any
left to terminate the seed. Then clods
choke the tender sprouts until they are
smothered and never get 10 the surface.
The ground must also be well drained.
for If water accumulates during a wet
time the seed will ROT
Next secure good seed for failure will
surely result # this is not looked after |
would suggest obtaining seed of the latest
improved varieties. Drill in the seed as
early as the ground can be safely worked.
as | find that early sown onions are the
best, especially where blights mildews
and rusts arc abundant. My onion field
has been wholly free from these pests,
but any field is apt TO be attacked. An
extra effort must be made after the seed
is In the ground to keep down the weeds
for If they once get started il is almost
impossible to eradicate them. because of
the smallness of the young onion plants.
Go over the ground often, so as to form
a soil mulch and thus conserve the mois-
ture and keep the hard crust broken IN
Fertiiizinl- Fruit Trees