616 



FARMERS' REGISTER— MANAGEMENT OF GAMA GRASS. 



thus, the resistance may not only be proportioned J/ireg inches alter fifteen days growth. At this 

 to the steepness oi" the declivity, so as to prevent; stage, 1 am (aiter years of experiments made to 



most eflectually the damaa;e done to the high 

 roads, and the unnecessary labor of cattle, when 

 drawing locked carriages down hills; but it will 

 also remove the danger of tlie frequent accidents 

 to which drivers are exposed; and will save that 

 lime, VN^hich is now of necessity lost, in locking 

 and unlockino- wagon-\vheels. 



From tlie Oliio Fiirnicr. 



BLUE COLORING MATTER FROM STRAW OF 

 BUCK WHEAT. 



We intended to have mentioned this subject 

 earlier in the season, in order that some of our 

 readers who had buck wheat upon their premises 

 might try the experiment and ascertain more satis- 

 factorily the facts of the case. But we will bring 

 it Ibrward now; perhaps it maybe recollected in its 

 proper season. The method which has been re- 

 commended for preparing the coloring matter from 

 this plant is the ioUowing — cut the stems before 

 the grain is fully ripe, and spread them upon the 

 ground exposed to the sun and thus ex])osed until 

 the seeds drop off with ease. When the grain is 

 separated from the stems, they are tlirown into 

 heaps, moistened with water, andlefl toiermentto 

 such a degree, thatdecomposhion takes place, and 

 a blue color is developed. It is then Ibrmed into 

 balls or flat cakes which are dried in tlic sun or by 

 a stove, after which if the balls are boiled in water. 



determine this |)oint,) now fully convinced that in 

 the production of milk, and butter — two of the 

 most agreeable et ceteras of a couifbrtable table, it 

 is not excelled even by the wide pea vine, so long 

 celebrated for the production of those two articles, 

 in their richest and most delicate state. 



For the purpose oi" making hay or dr)' forage for 

 the winter su]:!port of animals, this grass has been 

 well tested. See a communication in that valua- 

 ble agricultural paper, "The Baltimore Farmer," 

 of the 9th of September last. In curing this grass 

 tor hay, it ought to be cut at thirty days growth, 

 when it may be taken from the scythe and stacked, 

 if mixed with e([ual quantities ot' good oats, rye, 

 or rice straw, each layer of grass is laid on (or 

 what is better, mixed as stacked) sprinkled with 

 salt, when it will be found to cure admirably, and 

 impart a great portion of its highly aromatic flavor 

 to the straw, increasing the mass of excellent for- 

 age. 



In cutting this grass at thirty days growth, the 

 sickle is certainly the most eeomomical plan, and 

 sufficiently expeditious for soiling; but I can assure 

 your readers that but little practice is requisite to 

 iearn an individual to cut with the scythe. I have 

 had it cut both v/ays without any difficulty. 



I notice the remark, that as the roots progress 

 in age, the blades come out from around the edges, 

 and leave the centre of the root bare. To this 

 I objection I will candidly communicate a piece of 



they impart an intensely blue color which is not ||,^;^j.,^^fioj^ j ^.^^g] received, and v/hich obliges 

 effected by vinegar or oil of vitriol, it may be ...... . - . 



converted into red by adding an alkali as potash or 

 soda, with nulgalls it strikes a blacker color, and 

 a very fine green is aflbrded by evaporation. It is 

 said "that stiifTs dyed blue by "this preparation re- 

 tain their colors well and appear very handsome. 

 We have never prepared any coloring matte)- 

 from this plant, nor can we vouch for the truth of 

 the above statement, but certainly, Ave think it 

 worth a trial. 



From tiic Soutliern Planter. 

 REMARKS ON THE MANAGEMENT AND VA- 

 LUE OF GAMA GRASS. 



Mr. Bartlett — I beg you to receive my thanks 

 for your kind attention in forwarding the back num- 

 bers of your valuable periodical. Since I have 

 had the perusal of them, 1 am perfectly informed 

 of what my loss would have been, had I not re- 

 ceived them. On looking over those numbers I 

 discover in one of them, some remarks on, and in- 

 quiries respecting the Gama Grass. Having been 

 the first individual who was so fortunate as to get 

 the public attention directed to this ))lant — which I 

 am compelled to view, after an assiduous cultiva- 

 tion of ten years, as of extraordinary value to the 

 agriculturists of the south, I feel myself compe- 

 tent to answer those inquiries satisfactoril}^, and I 

 think, to do away the imaginary objections sug- 

 gested. 



With me this plant is found to grow in every 

 kind of soil: but certainly to exhibit its extraordi 

 nary productiveness, the soil must be good, natu- 

 rally, or made so by art. And in addition, the 

 presence of calcareous matter is essential. As it 

 regards its growth, after being cut monthly, I an 

 yet to Ictarn the name of a plant that equals it, if 

 the soil is properly prepared. I have cut it twenty- 



mo; to believe it is entirely owing to our mode of 

 cultivation that this takes place. About two 

 months ago, a most observing planter called on 

 me for the purpose of having some conversation 

 on the subject of this grass. This peculiarity was 

 noticed; he immediately remarked, that in a patch 

 of the gama found in his field, in its native state, 

 about one acre, there was not one root to be found 

 in the abovementioned situation; that a remark of 

 mine had induced a close examination; and added 

 that it was entirely owing to my mode of cultiva- 

 tion that the roots exhibited this appearance. That 

 I cultivated to produce root, by giving a distance 

 that caused the root to sj)read to an unnatural^ 

 breadth, and which prevented that thick coat of 

 foliage found attached to the plant in its natural 

 state; that none of the roots found in his patch, 

 which to his knowledge is fifteen years old, and 

 appeared as old and luxuriant when he settled on 

 the land (black limestone land) could have been 

 originally more than twelve inches apart; that 

 when he first noticed this plat of grass and attempt- 

 ed to break it up, with the plough, the ground was 

 totally occupied with the roots, and which pre- 

 vented his eflecting the destruction of the plat; 

 (hat finding his horses, mules and oxen preferred 

 it to all other grasses, he let it stand for ha)', and 

 from it made annually several stacks. The state- 

 ment appearing to carry weight with it, I went the 

 next day and examined for myself, and found the 

 whole entirely correct; and am now induced to be- 

 lieve his observation judicious. In consequence 

 of this circumstance, I shall plant a lot of gama at 

 twelve inches from plant to plant, and let trial de- 

 termine the correctness of theory. During a ride 

 last month through apart of the Choctaw country, 

 I found this grass in greater luxuriance than I 

 have ever been able to produce it, and uniforaily I 



