Year: 1869




Grasses for the South.--Eyergreen Grass.
Mr.. EDITOR If you will avail yourself
of short ride into the country adjacent to
Charlotte you will be gratifed to see the
rapid strides that our farmers are making on
the road to prosperity. A noticeable feature,
chief among which is the great changes
brought about doubtless by the results of the
war and its effect upon labor, and which to
me affords the greatest evidences of advance
ment is the large quantity of Clover now
used. Indeed, on plantations which former
ly boasted acre lots, we notice large green
fields comprising many acres, which, while
adding much to the quality of beef butter
and milk, supplies the wheat grower with
the best and cheapest fertilizer for that and
other small gram.


1t has been my privilege to use your col
umns several times urging our people to SOW
large quantities of clover seed, while it has
been scarcely two years since my attention
was called to the benefits flowing from SOW
ing Orchard Grass, and you will remember
then how used my feeble efforts in short
article devoted to the encouragement of its
growth. Since that time have seen many
pretty lots of Orchard Grass which success
fully resisted the effects of the drouth, which
convinced me that, Orchard Grass is well
adapted to our section. ~
Now, Mr.. Editor, while would not say
one word against and much in favor of the
continuance of the cultivation of such grass
es as those named, and while am satisfied
that they are tine best grasses which have
had trial in our section, and that they are
remuneratiye both in supplying food for
stock and vegetable mould for land, l do
not think am detracting one iota from
their usefulness if introduce to your read
ers another species of grass which has
claimed my attention for the past few
months.


During the months of May and June,
when passing through the country near
Lynchburg, my attention was called to green
sods which covered the fields which before
the war we're nearly exhausted by the cul-
ture OF Tobacco. Persons living about here
who are familiar with that section will find
difficulty in noting any difference in the
characteristics of the SOIL climate and the
main features of the country, except that
cotton is raised there only in garden patch
es, if at ALL while tobacco has heretofore
been the staple prnduct, Surely it is not a
grass growing section, nor has the soil more
lime in 1t than our own. The land is very
drouthy and has suffered much by contihu-
Gus cultivation of most ,exhausting crops.
But the farmers of that section are recuper--
ating their lands rapidly by the use of grass
es, and in lieu of the bald hills which once
stared at you on every side, l notice that
Glover, Orchard Grass and Evergreen Grass
is rapidly sodding the hills, thus presenting
q most pleasant prospect to the eye. ,.l..
This Evergreen Grass to which l wish to
call attention seems to be the favorite there,
and am induced by its successful career to
give you its main features, so that if any of
our people feel any inclination to profit by
it they may have time yet left them in which
to do so. Evergreen Grass is easily gotten
rid of by the plough Evergreen grass, of
all grasses, will take hold on the thinnest
land, though like every species of herbage
it must have some soil. 1t withstands more
effectually the heated terms of the year and
suffers less from drouth than any grass
known. 1t is the first green thing to show
itself in the Spring and the last of all grasses
to yield to the rigors of winter, hence its
name. If not pastured too close it will re-
seed itself for number of years, certainly
no less than seven years. and il properly at
tended to, for much longer period. 1t is
eagerly sought after and eaten by horses,
cattle and hogs, and its fattening qualities
are not excelled by any grass. 1t grows
higher than the highest clover, hence is
easily moved and makes excellent hay. 1t
has two growths each year, Spring and
Fall. The seed should be sown in the
Fall, at the rate of one bushel per acre, on
wheat land and slightly brushed in. can
not think that the cost will be more than
One-third or one-fourth that of Clover Seed,
while the soil for its production if well pre-
pared need not be the richest. Having once
set your land in this grass, the seed obtained
from it with but little difficulty will enable
you 10 cover every field on your place which
needs rest and recuperation. ....


learn that parties near Charlotte who
have had their attention called to this spe
cies of grass, by gentlemen who have seen
it growing, have been induced to order it
through the druggists. propose sowing
fifteen bushels on land which am seeding
In oats From what have seen and heard
respecting this species of grass, incline to
the opinion that Evergreen Grass can be
successfully grown here, and that it can be
made powerful agent in restoring our
worn out lands to their former vigor and
WORTH 4r4.. ., .Il i liaA-.t. %


Hence, Mr. Editor, think it advisable
iOr our farmers to sow some seed of the
three varieties of grass mentioned, and after
having fully tested all to continue with that
from which most benefit was derived and
which seemed to suit bes, our climate and
soil.


STABLE WINDows-Diseascs of the eye
N horses may, in many cases, he traced to
!he wretched custom of confning animals
IN dark stables. Any one who has been for
ONE timein a dark room, knows what tie
~ lis ofcoming suddenly out into the
ISS7S.sh. The horse is no less, sensitive.
SinX him suddenly out, and you notice that


stumbles against almost everything that


ID his way, and steps with the utmost IN
ertainty The eye must gradually become
k9ustomed to the change. The effect of
ie common treatment cannot fail eventually
to be disastrous to the eyesight. The de-
ention in dark stables must have delete
ious influence on the optic nerve, by weak
Pllng it. The retna feels it Also Objects


e reflected on a. dull surface and they are
pit clearly discerned The master wonders


hat is the matter; his horse used to be


lre-footed, but now he stuInbles entirely


70 frequently for his credit in the market


6 used to be very gentle and could be war


nted as altogether safe, but now he snles


abominably that several times he has near


Upset the carriage, and the ladies OF the


Use are afraid of him. He is loos1ne


aracter and rapidly getting bad name


len the poor brute is as deserving OF con


enee as ever THE animal would in fac


safer with absolute blindness than WITT


Perfect vision, for it is constantly alarml1eet me-


Objects which are seen indistnctly, where


IN n the former case, ii trusts entirely to tn


lie. Farmers should make a note, AM


anelr horses have light. 9 si,nr nyaa 4


ne farmer who obtains from the field no


t'erly fertilized ten bushels of grain whc


"a. huring be might have obtained twent


'ahg his labor at half its value