Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-02-06
Bermuda Grass for Southern Pastures.

Bermuda Grass for Southern Pastures.
It is a good time to set the Bermuda
for making pastures. and l come again
10 sing its praises.
II has the merit OF withstanding the
hot summer sun and freezes do not spew
it out OF the ground. because the long
tendrils intervene and the roots mat to-
gether making a close and perfect sod
wherevere Il Is thrifty.
have seen second years red clover kill
ed BY hot sun until II was an entire fall
ure. and never amounted 10 anything al
forwards. But Bermuda grass will catch
and hold and come again. no matter how
dry the season may be.
Every animal or fowl that feeds on
grass is fond Of the Bermuda. and the
roofing of swine seems TO cultivate 1t bet
ter.
It IS a most valuable grass for hay. and
cattle will eat the dead grass after frost
falls on ii. and IL there is enough grass,
they will keep in condition all winter.
For sheep ii is perhaps the best pas
ture known TO the south. and their drop
pings not only fertilize the grass roots.
but are held on the soil and not washed
of with hard rains by the close sod.
In the present disorganized condition OF
labor. the great lack OF reliable help. Ber-
uuda grass is an incalculable blessing.
because stock can gather their own ra-
lions in the field and subsist for seven or
eight months I'm the year, IL the soil Is
good.
The grass begins to show green IN May.
and unless the cold weather sets in UNI
common carly stock can do very well un-
Ill December, because as before said the
dead grass has all the good properties OF
dry hay.
There is no question but Georgia can
raise as fine hogs as any state in the
union. under proper care and the condi-
lions that go along with needful attention,
proper shelter and running water for
stocz-
Nobody can expect to succeed with hogs
who does not provide for their care and
comfort but when hogs can run on a
good bermuda pasture with water inside
of II for drinking and for mud wallows in
hot weather. these conditions are well
nigh perfect for raising swine.
And southern farmers must turn their
attention TO pork raising. The idea of
paying u 1-2 cents for pork at Christmas
is simply idiotic farming, because bacon
will be out of reach by midsummer for
such poor managers.
Bermuda is fine for mares with colts.
and when yearling mules can run on
good bermuda pasture one will hardly
miss what II takes to raise them until
they can go to the pillow. Bermuda is an
old text and often preached from, but the
sermon Is worth listening 20 once a month
during the entire year. because the grass
fills a place in southern farming that is
occupied by nothing else that know any
thing about. and because IL requires plant
ing out but once. and will stop gullies and
feed cattle year in and year out for 50
years at a time. II given only half
chance. II makes the incest of cut hay If
left for the mower. and whenever all the
fields and meadows are parched to dust
under a burning sun those penetrating
grass roots will search i'm the soil and
find strength somewhere TO keep alive
and growing.
If could make rhymes or write poetry,
I would sing a scng OF peace and plenty,
always ripe and ready for good works,
and dedicate IL to the bermuda grass
plant.