276 THE YEAR-BOOK OF AGRICULTURE. 



It is known to have been the opinion of the late Mr. Poinsett, that if the rice-lands of South 

 Carolina were sufficiently drained and protected from the influence of salt water, many of the 

 artificial grasses would grow well on them, and enable the rice-planter not only to secure an 

 abundant supply of the best hay, but to adopt a rotation of crops, as in Italy, by which his 

 lands would be ameliorated and his crops of rice increased: In South Carolina, Mr. Calhoun, 

 of Pendleton, Mr. Saxon, of the Abbeville district, and Mr. Sumner, of the Newberry district, 

 have all grown clover with great and uniform success. Going farther Soutn, Mr. Groom 

 states that he has for the last ten years cultivated clover in the canebrake or lime land of 

 Marengo county, Alabama, a few minutes north of 32 degrees, with every success which could 

 be reasonably desired. 



Col. C. further states, that it has afforded an abundant supply of grazing for stock of every 

 kind, fattening hogs, sheep, mares and colts, horses not at work, beef-cattle, calves, and goats, 

 from March to November, and a good deal of grazing during the other months. Hay could 

 be made if desired. It is grazed regularly from February to November, and irregularly at 

 other times. During the period of regular grazing, stock of every kind will keep fat without 

 any other food, and nothing is given to them except a little corn to the hogs, to keep them 

 gentle and obedient to tl^e call of the herdsman. The land as yet has shown no disposition 

 to clover-sickness, nor was the crop ever much finer than during the past summer, although 

 there was no rain on it from the 1st April to the 1st July, except, perhaps, one or two very 

 slight showers. Although it cannot be doubted that moist summers are most favorable to its 

 perfect development, yet when it has become well rooted in a deep, rich subsoil, it is less 

 affected by the influence of sun and air than many other of our most valuable plants. It has 

 often attained to the height of four feet. 



We have often expressed the opinion, and still maintain it, that when clover is successfully 

 grown, it is a far more valuable crop at the South than at the North. The reasons are, that 

 being a biennial plant, it requires renewing every third year. This renewing is often, if not 

 always, necessary in a Northern climate, but never at the South, so far as our experience 

 goes. The volunteer plants preserve a good stand. Again: during some six months of the 

 year the Northern soils are frozen up or covered with snow, while at the South, during much 

 the largest portion of this time, clover grows finely. We know of other planters in the same 

 county who have engaged in the clover culture, and who are pleased with their success and 

 prospects. 



More might be said in its behalf, and more proof adduced, but we believe that sufficient 

 proof has been presented to show not only the inappreciable value of clover to Southern hus- 

 bandry, but, besides, its adaption to a Southern climate ; and that its growth, in truth, is not 

 so much dependent on climate as on the mechanical and chemical characters of the soil. 



In the Southern States there is a large quantity of sandy, acid lands, resting upon deep 

 subsoils of the same character. These cannot be recommended for the cultivation of clover. 

 We do not wish, however, to disparage these lands, for they are easily cultivated, and well 

 adapted to some of our most valuable crops, and may be rapidly improved by the field-pea, 

 which has aptly been called "Southern clover." The grasses are not deep-rooted like the 

 clovers, and cannot, therefore, bear so well the influence of a hot sun ; but when sown on 

 good soils, with the necessary shade, they flourish in the central districts of the cotton-grow- 

 ing region, and will probably do so in the southern portion of it. Blue, orchard, herds, and 

 timothy grasses, are cultivated extensively in the more elevated belts of the Southern States, 

 and to some extent in the middle districts. In the more southern and eastern portions, also, 

 experiments sufficient to test the practicability of their successful growth have already been 

 made. 



The South, however, possesses treasures in her native grasses which she has not yet learned 

 to appreciate. If proper attention were bestowed on these, the value realized would astonish 

 us. As an illustration, a gentleman of Autauga county, Ala., told us, a few weeks ago, that 

 from 20 acres of creek-bottom land he had the present year saved 10 tons of sound, sweet 

 crab-grass hay, which would serve his purposes as well as the Northern hay, for which last 

 he had to pay $35 to $40 per ton by the time it reached his stable door. 



