The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1901-11-05
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hills along the lower mountains. l
have seen it plowed up TO seeming
destruction in a field, which in few
weeks would be again perfectly
green wish it.
I observed that it grew we'll on the
same kind of soils that the blowers
grow so strong on. The main differ
ence was that cIovers could not stand
the hottest sun, while the Bermuda
seemed TO invite it. Being tropical,
the suns rays seemed TO invigorate
it TO stronger and more rapid growth.
1t will grow up a foot to eighteen
inches high, thick and strong, suit
able for moving and turning off a
good crop of hay. l was told it was
hard TO cure, like other succulent
grasses, but when properly cured it
was excellent. I thought it not
harder TO cure than clover or millet
and that it would rate up with them
as winter slower, and also that it
would rate up with them for cutting
into the silo and that the oorns alone
would much excel it, especially In
dian corn (zeG mGyS), which I regard
as heading the whole list for dried
slower or for QUITTING into the silo.
Suppose that fifty acres of a plan
tation be devoted 80 Bermuda grass
meadow, il would be unlike other
grasses used as meadow from the
fact that it is not set from the seed,
but from joints of the grass. In
case of drouth new joints are con-
stantly forming. IF too thick and
stunted, it may, after being moved,
be out all TO pieces with a heavy
disc harrow and rolled; it will at
once, wet or dry, begin to recover
and the question never needs TO be
asked, "Will I have q good stand?"
Il may be turned down with pillow
and the bottom of burrows subsoiled
TO renew complete drainage then
disc narrowed and rolled smooth, it
will recover growth and be ready for
meadow next season.
If wanted for pasture for sheep, it
may be grazed down, then cut up
and cross-cut with fertilizer disc
drill, and thereby a dressing of sheep
manure fertilizer, as noted in Chapter
XIX, applied, then rolled smooth
and the result will be a sheep pasture
hard TO excel in any country. If it
becomes short a rest of two TO four
weeks will completely renew it.
If il be meadow on the sheep farm
and requires renewing, it may be
harvested then plowed down and
gubsoiled in the bottom with a sub.
soil plow, and completely disc har-
rowed by crossing with a fertilizing
disc drill, applying half a ton of tine
sheep fertilizer at each narrowing
and then rolled smooth, it will oOn
be green with grass and if done in
early summer it may perhaps be
ready TO out into the soil before get
ting any frost. OF course where the
turning pillow is used to break up, the
furrow should not be turned fat
down, but left partially on edge.
From such a meadow two or three
crops can be taken in n season.
With proper culture of meadow and
top dressing with sheep fertilizer be-
fore referred TO, I have no hesitation
in saying that four tons of dry hay
or twelve tons of silage can be taken
annually from an acre of Bermuda
grass. Even one hundred tons of
dry hay or six hundred tons of silage
is quite sufficient for 800 sheep.
In the North it has been proved
that over eight tons of green hay,
meadow grass, has been cut from
one acre at n cutting and they
are aiming to reach ten tons, and
will do it. From a study of the
origin, native home, habits and char
aoter of this Bermuda grass I firmly
believe that it can be improved and
cultivated until in a favored spot,
ten tons of grass can be taken from
an acre of it at one cutting in the
lower South.
South Carolina has beat the Nation
on an acre of corn and so can is be
done in hay or silage with an acre of
Bermuda grass after it has been
improved.
SAMUEL ARCHER.
Marion, Mcdowell Co., N. G.
Appendix.-Sinoe preparing the
abOva ohaDEar for tho DroSG T ON II,