The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-01-01
PASTURE GRAS.
ire and hay grasses

cutting Tor nay IN the spring. Many
farmers want combination of grass
es some varieties Of which will be
green in winter, while others will
spriug into life in April and remain
green all su MINER. This shows trend
of thoughts developing in the right
direction and along the right line.
Several hundred head of young thor
ough bred varieties of beef cattle were
sold to farmers in different sections of
Geor.ia last year and the question of
better pasturage than that usually
found on the average farm is receiving
attention. First class healthy cattle
cannot be protitably raised and berded
on poor pa. turage. The experiment
har been too often tried and failed to
admit of any argument. In raising
beer cattle or any kind of stock some
thing else is necessary than merely
securing grass or forage. Stock must
not only lave an abundance OF grass,
but it must be of the best quality OF
grass obtainable. Quality rather than
quantity must be the controlling idea,
and of all people the man who is EN-
gagged in the cattle or rstock business
should he the best posted on the rel
ative merits Of grasses composing the
pasturage on the farm. He should
know their relative feeding value. so
that in the effort made to secure the
best results from their use he will culti-
vate only such varieties as will pay for
the care and trouble. A good hay or
pasture grass should not be too rank
in it's growth, because the stems are
likely to soon become coarse and
woody, rendering them largely unpala-
table and hard to digest. The plant
should have, if possible, a large pro-
portion Of leaves. which are always
the most edible and easiest digeslible
parts. Permanent meadows should
consist of pereunials. But few grasses
fertilize the soils upon which they
grow, therefore some legumious plant
should be mixed with grasses. Where
forage crops alone are grown legumin-
Gus plants should be used in preference
to all others.
SOME GOOD GRASSES.
Native grasses as q general rule are
superior TO all others, no matter how
highly advertised the foreign varieties
may be. Those grasses which have
thrived on southern soils for genera
tions are thoroughly acclimatized, and
many of them are as nutritious
ss any which can be imported
from other countries. For a spring,
summer and early fall grass,
nothing is superior for first class
permanent pasture than Bermuda.
The grass stands at the very top OF all
grasses in the United States for nutri-
ment and perfection from every stand
point of criticism. 1t will thrive and
make perfect sod on nearly evrey va
riety of soul in the Southern states.
Bermuda not only serves its mission
as a fl rst class pasture grass for cattle,
horses, sheep aud nogs, but it makes
hay easily cured and inferior to none
other in this country. The vetches,
both hairy and winter kinds, are also
valuable for fall and winter grazing,
extending we'll into spring. Other
good grasses are Japan clover, fall oat
grass, crabgrass, lucerne or alfalfa,
florida beggar weed, orchard grass,
burr clover. Texas bluegrass, teosinte,
alsike clover, red clover, yellow lupine
and cowpeas. These are varieties of
grasses and clovers from which any
man may make good selection for
winter and summer growth for past
urage or hay, to suit the section OF
country in which he lives.
PREPARING PASTURE LANDS.
The land upon which grasses are to
be sown for pasturage or hay should
be we'll plowed a few days before SOW
ing the seed, and the harrow the top
surfice until the soil is smooth and
nicely pulveriZed. In mixture of light
and heavy seed, they should be sown
separately otherwise will be impossible
to secure an even distribution of the
seed. The heavy seed viii be thrown
farther, while the lighter ones Will
fall nearer by, and the stand viii be
badly streaked and irregular. When
seed are sown by hand it is always
best to go over the ground twice, SOW
ing one half the quantity one way and
returning over the land in opposite
direction.
In covering seed a roller is preferable
to a harrow, smoother or brush. If
the seed are quite small and sowed
just previous to a rain, no covering II
necessary. In our section of the coun-
try August and September are the two
months best suited in which to SOW
grasses or clover. If the seed cannot
be sown in the fall of the year on
account Of other growing crops on the
land, then plant in February or
March, so as to give the young plants
time to become firmly rooted before
the sping weeds or early hot weather
comes on with their deteriOrating
effects. 1t is rarely advisable to sow
grasses or clovers with grain, though
clovers sometimes do well with
wheat or oats.
APPLICATION OF FERTILIZERS.
There is no better fertilizer for hay
or pasture lands than stable manure
or green cotton seed broadcasted and
plOwed in when the land is broken.
Such a fertilizer will last for two or
three years without additional ferti-
| liZati0n. Of course tOpdressing be-
comes necessary if the grass shows
failure from want Of proper fertility
in the soil. A satisfactory crop ofhay
cannot be grown on poor soils, neitli-
er can good pasture be maintained
on land which will not produce a
good crop of cotton and corn. Proper
| fertilization is as necessary on hay
and pasture lands as elsewhere. A
tirst-class top dressing for spring
application can be made of so pounds
of potash per acre, which can be
secured in 400 pounds of KANT, $50
pouns cotton hull ashes or 100 pounds
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