The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-10-26
AGRICULTURE.
GRASSES AND CLOVERS.

The subject of the Importance of grass
in agriculture is an interesting one.. The
study of grasses and clovers is one of the
most fascinating in the whole list of agri-
cultural topics.
In the general discussion here the term
grass includes both grass and clover.
Later on the two will be treated under
separate heading as we take up and dis
cuss the various varieties.
Grass is the foundation of all agricul-
tura1 wealth in all countries, and history
fails to show any country anywhere on
the globe which ever became wealthy
from an agricultural point of view until
the people builded upon this sure ,founda-
ton.
This fact was well established in the
early history of mankind and often even
in sacred history mention is made or
grass. Here we learn of the Patrlarchs
seeking the plains where grass pasture
was found in sufficient abundance to feed
their focks and herds. When the wicked
King ACKNOWLEDGMENT was banished from
his people and made to eat grass with the
beasts of the field he found green pastures
of that wonderful plant, alfalfa. upon
WHICH lie leu IOT several years. l. uc psalm
list. David, understood this matter well
and it brought from his pen that beauti-
full sentiment, THE Lord is my Shepherd,
/ shall not want; his shepherd because
he had provided green pastures growing
beside the still waters. In Palestine today,
after thousands of centuries have passed
since David saw the flocks feeding upon
the green meadows and drew from them
inspiration for writing those precious
promises. we still find the shepherds lead
ing their fiocks to the pastures by the
still waters where they may feed upon
the green grasses. And later on down the
ages the great teacher said, THE sheep
know the shepherds voice. thus recog-
nizing the value of pasture for the flocks
And so 1t has been through all the ages
the shepherds, the good farmers. are seek
ing grasses for their cattle and sheep.
Recently while making trip through old
Mexico [ was reminded not only of the
beautiful scenes of the early days of an
cient Palestine as recorded in sacred his
tory but was greatly impressed as well
with the faithfulness of the shepherds in
caring for their focks and in leading them
to and from the green pastures. The sys-
tenn of caring for the hocks Is the same
here 1t was in Palestine thousands of
years ago, therefore by n careful investl-
cation of this subject we find that the
more grass a country has the more wealth
power of the soil.
Grass properly managed not only feeds
the stock and increases the farmers bank
account, but 1t also in turn feeds and en-
riches the soil. There is no better way for
preserving the plant foods contained in
our soils than by keeping them shaded
with green grass throughout the entire
year. How this is to be accomplished is
the problem and it Is the purpose of the
writer to give here such information as
will enable the farmer who has thus far
failed with grasses to succeed hereafter In
growing abundance of grass. There
are some things in connection with this
which are absolutely necessary to sue
cess,
Farmers have crude ideas in regard to
growing grasses The writer is travelling
all the time holding farmers institute
meetings In many sections Of the country
and meeting and talking with thousands
of farmers, so has an opportunity TO OBJ
serve things in general II Is certainly as
tonishing to find so many who have the
very crudest of ideas regarding grass
growing, or none at all. This may be say
Ing a great deal, yet 1t is true, and we
had better take conditions as find
them and try to apply such remedies as
will correct these conditions. There are
so many farmers who seem to think that
after the soil has become worn out by
continued farming, thus having been
robbed of all plant food 1t ought to grow
grass and that all that is needed is to
SOW the land with seed and the grass will
come After such efforts have failed the
farmer is often ready to say that the
country will not grow grass and that
there is no use wasting time trying to
grow It, We often find another class Of
farmers who are willing to give the soil
some plant food before sowing the seed,
but stop here and seem to think that the
grass can care for itself after once being
started. Such farmers make only par
tial success with grasses and are always
in doubt, being never certain as to wheth-
er their soils and the country around them
is suitable for grass or not.
SOME CAUSES OF FAILURE.
The above are the principal reasons for