96 FARMER'S BOOK OF 



Dr. J. H. Watkins, Palmetto^ Ga., writes that it is four feet 

 high, and began seeding September 12, had stood a five weeks' 

 drought without wilting, while crab grass and corn were badly 

 parched up 



"In order that the public may have all the benefit of my ex- 

 perience with this grass, I have concluded to tell what I know 

 about it in your columns. I have, this year, set one and one- 

 half acres in the plants on land badly worn and cleared about 

 seventy-five years ; but a portion of it has been used as a cow- 

 pen, and planted in potatoes, sugar cane, wheat, oats and, last 

 year, in cotton, producing at the rate of one-half bale per acre. 

 This year it was broken deeply, and manured with compost of 

 cotton [seed?] and stable manure, two pounds each to one of 

 Merry man's ammoniated guano, at the rate of 1,000 Ibs. per 

 acre, put in the drill and bedded on with long narrow scooter 

 plough, run very deep, rows nearly three feet apart. The 

 plants were set about eighteen inches apart, about the first of 

 April; received two plo wings and two hoeings; was cut 18th. 

 July. One row thoroughly dried and weighed by several of 

 my neighbors and land measured ; yield ascertained in that way 

 15,842 Ibs. per acre. The test row was under an average, if any 

 thing. Although there had been no rain since July 29th., the 

 grass began putting out and, in four weeks, it was about four 

 feet high, and should have been cut again in five weeks, but I 

 let it stand eight ; and although I made good hay I had much 

 trouble with it, as the weather was cloudy and occasionally a 

 light shower. 



"Yield the last cutting 7,928 Ibs using two rows instead of 

 one as test rows. One was the row used in first cutting. It 

 had several pounds less than the other, and the other was far 

 inferior to some both upon the whole about an average. To- 

 tal yield per acre, 23,870 Ibs. I should have broadcasted the 

 manure instead of putting it in the drill. I should have had 

 the rows 2 feet apart instead of 3, and the plants 12 instead ot 

 18 inches. It ^should have been cut at least 10 days or two 

 weeks earlier the first time and 3 weeks earlier the second. I 

 would, m the same space of time that I got two cuttings, have 

 gotten three, and fourth full of seed 1st. of November, the yield 

 of hay would have been greater, the quality better, and the 

 time required in curing lessened. For grazing purposes for 

 cows, and work oxen I do not think it has an equal at the sea- 

 son of year it is on hand. Cattle are more fond of it than any 

 other grass so are hogs. Horses and mules prefer crab grass, 

 but will eat the other when they can not get the crab. A patch 

 can be continued indefinitely, by taking stock off in time for it 

 to ripen its seeds. 



"The seed should be planted in our latitude in January, and 

 if set out, it should be done as soon as the plants get 3 or 4 inch- 

 es high. 



