The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-11-06
Agricultural Department
CONDUCTED BY FULTON S. WHITE.

in the southern states October is, per-
 haps. the best time of all. However,
 sowings may be made from the middle
 of September on through November. It
 is always well to delay sowing until the
 soil can be fully prepared, for neither
 grass nor clover will grow on rough,
 cloddy lands Cultivate, harrow and drag over the soil until it is made per- fectly fine, then SOW the seed and cover
 lightly with a good harrow. If possible. SOW just before a shower of rain. Fol-
 lowing these directions, a stand is easily
 obtained. It may be well enough to use some nurse crop for the good grass. and for this purpose crimson clover would be hne or rye could be used. A bushel of
 rye per acre would be about right. One could use ten to fifteen pounds of the
 crimson clover seed. This could be pas
 tured off when the soil was dry and not
 iniure the young grass. Orchard grass should not be cut or pastured heavily
 the first season.
 I think that if our farmers will give
 this grass a chance, it will quickly prove
 its value. In fact, it Is no longer an ex-
 pertinent, but is growing everywhere, and in many sections Is taking the place even of blue grass.
 Bermuda Grass.
 This Is another fine grass for the south | and, in fact. it is to the south what blue
 grass is to the north. This. too, adapts itself to a great range of soils. We find it growing on thin sandy soils as well as on the deep rich black lands. We find it growing in almost every section of the south. and like the COW pea IS now work ing it's way north. l find it growing as far north SIS Kansas City, Mo, where 1t wthstood last winter. This grass is also used for hay in many sections, but, no doubt, it's greatest value is in the rich pasture it affords. Some object to it on the ground that they can not get clear of 1t where it once gets a start.
 But the question is why should any one wish to get clear of so fine and valuable a grass. I find sections where it has such a hold and is spreading so rapidly that it will be a job to get rid of it. This
 is especially true in many sections of Texas, and through all that rich delta country from Memphis to New Orleans. Through this section it grows to perfec- ton and threatens to take the whole country, even growing in the cotton fields There is no doubt but what it
 would be a blessing if it should drive every thing else out of the country for
 few years. The thing Is for the farm CTS to have stock to eat it as fast as it grows.
 Another Value of Bermuda.
 Besides its great value for both hay and pasture. 1t has another great value in the south, that is, of making beautiful lawns
 II is the grass for the yards of southern homes. Bermuda grass may be grown either from the roots or from seed
 Where seed are used the soil must be made very fine for they are small and I...A I4..I.k IA a start in a neighborhood it spreads rap idly. Perhaps the best way to secure stand for the field would be to secure sod. chop it up fine and set it out.
 For yards the seed may be used and should be planted freely {: } as to get thick mat at once. This grass does not mature seed in this country and the im- ported seed comes high. But. in using seed. especially for the yard, none but the very best should be used regardless of first cost. This Is a small matter com pared to getting rid of some worthless foreign grass which may be obtained in the use of cheap seed.
 There are many other varieties of grasses that are well suited for the south These we will notice in due time, but no others will cover so great a need as those both clovers and grasses, that we have mentioned It is to be hoped that more of these may be sown this fall than ever before in the south. The soil generally. all over the country, is i- fine condition for preparing and sowing to grasses and clovers. And while the reader may be thinking on these things and preparing
 for them, let me repeat here my former
 advice and urge all farmers to pre-
 pare some sort of winter and fall pasture for your stock.
 Do not let winter again find you without any sort of pasture for your stock. If you will provide winter pasture by sowing rye. you can get through the winter on just half the dry seed that would be re- quired without this green food. Stock of i all kind need something green In the
 winter. The poultry. young hogs. young calves and lambs all enjoy and need i plenty of green food through the winter.
 Remember that there is but little pay in i keeping a poor animal of any sort on the farm; and it is also poor economy to | allow stock to lose in winter flesh gained ] through the summer. The farmers are ! out just that much every time
 1 I had a farmers meeting a few days ago up in Kansas. where tLese matters were under discussion. and it was the conclusion of the farmers present that they could winter stock through under their system of management cheaper than they could carry them through the summer. This. I think will apply to
 nearly all sections of the south where the winters are mild and where pasture may be had the greater part of tho year.