SOLON ROBINSON, 1845 491 



by freezing, and there they stand, slowly washing down 



by rain, while upon each side the ditch grows deeper with 



every shower. „ „ 



Solon Robinson. 



Bermuda and Cocoa Grass and Sheep in Mississippi. 



[New York American Agriculturist, 4:143-44; May, 1845] 



[March 21, 1845] 

 Bermuda Grass. — The cultivation of this grass in the 

 State of Mississippi, I look upon as one of the most im- 

 portant things that can be brought to the notice of the 

 citizens of this State, and probably to most others of the 

 Southern States, where the long continuation of a hot 

 burning sun so completely dries up all other kinds of 

 cultivated grasses, that at that season when grass for 

 pasture or hay is most needed, they will be found more 

 fit to burn than to afford green food ; while with the Ber- 

 muda, the hotter the sun the more luxuriant the growth ; 

 affording not only the finest kind of summer pasture, but 

 yielding an almost inconceivable quantity of excellent 

 hay I am aware that to many of your readers my re- 

 marks upon this subject are entirely uninteresting; but 

 I beg of them to consider that there are thousands of 

 others who never saw a spear of this grass growing, and 

 know nothing of its value. Mr. Affleck, of Washington, 

 Miss., who is as well informed upon the subject perhaps 

 as any other person, believes this to be identical with 

 that which forms the beautiful green grassy banks of the 

 river Ganges; and although here only known as Ber- 

 muda, that it originally came from the East instead of 

 the West Indies. But be this as it may, it is to the South 

 what Kentucky blue grass is to that State ; yet, notwith- 

 standing its vast importance, I have travelled over sev- 

 eral counties in Mississippi where it was as completely 

 unknown as if it had never left its original place upon 

 the banks of the "holy river." 



One reason why Bermuda grass spreads so slowly is, 

 that it does not bear seed in this country, and conse- 



