SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR. 
25J 
life he serveH in the Congress of the United States ; and 
still later, in obedience to a nearly or quite unanimous 
cal! of that constituency, represented the counties of Han- 
cock and Baldwin in the Senate of Georgia. As a man of 
refined taste, high mental culture, and extensive and varied 
imformation, he had few, if any, superiors in Georgia, 
while the qualities of his heart formed in all respects a fit 
counterpart to the high endowments of his head. Those 
who knew him best — and it is they that loved him most 
— will not think it too much to say, in the oft quoted 
words of the dramatist; 
“This was the nobfest Roman of them all: 
His life was gentle, and the elements 
So mixed in him that nature might stand up, 
And say to all the world, he was a man,” 
The following brief note announces the painful event 
which has called forth the foregoing hurried and inade- 
quate tribute : 
“ Sparta. July 4, 3 A. !M, 
"Our much esteemed friend. Dr. Terrell, expired quiet- 
ly and without a struggle this morning, at half-past one 
o’clock. A good and honest man is the noblest work of 
God. I read and prayed with him, and trust he died in 
the true faith.” 
GRASSES FOR HAY AND GRAZING. 
We cannot better introduced what we wish to say on 
this subject at this writing, than by publishing the follow- 
ing brief notes which explain themselves : 
Pomona Hall, (near Clarksville,) Ga,, June 5, ’55. 
. Dr. Danirl Lee — Dear Sir — I enclose to you a speci- 
men of some of my Wild Grass, cut when in bloom ; it is 
perennial and a winter green, and I believe, the best grass 
for all purposes that is known. As I am no botanist and 
know that you take great ihterest in agricultural matters, 
will you please classify this grass and let me know its 
proper name and station. I have been cultivating it four 
years; began upon less than a thimbleful of seed, obtain- 
ed from a traveller, who said he gathered it in the Rocky 
Mountains or Arkansas — I do not recollect which. 
If you have leisure to attend to it you will greatly 
.oblige one who appreciates, your devotion to agiicultural 
improventenis. John R. Stanford. 
P, S — A reply, direct, or through the Smihern Cv.lti- 
vatoTyiH requested. J. R. S. 
Atlanta, Ga., June 9,T855. 
Dr. Daniel Lee— Dear Sir—'^iv. Stanford, qf Clarks- 
ville, will send you some heads of his ntiv grass to classi- 
fy. It is, beyond a doubt, the common “Tall Oat Grass” 
of England, such as is sold in all the Northern seed stores ; 
it is identical with the great grass of Col. Watkins, oJ 
Huntsville, and with my Mysterious Grass, that I showed 
to you in my garden several years ago. I am well 
pleased with this grass, and, at tliis time, consider it the 
only, hay grass for upland that, in thi^ climate, can be re- 
lied on to grow high enough to cut. 
Respectfully yours, R. Peters. 
P.S. — The four heads enclosed are, one from Col Wat- 
kins, one from Col. Stanford, one from seed out off 
Northq^n seed stores, ant? one from my garden patch o! 
Mysterious Grass. R. P, 
Mr. Peters is right in calling the specimen furnished 
by Mr. Stanford, “Tall Oat Grass,” whose botanical 
iiame is Avena elalior L., and Arrena tkrenum avenaceum, 
BiiAOR. The latter name is intended, doubtless, to com- 
bine its two leading characteristics, viz: its avenous, or 
oat features, with its arenaceous habitat, or sand-loving 
habitation. These facts are not unworthy of note, as 
favoring the hope that it may be constitutionally adapted 
to the soil and climate of no inconsiderable part of the 
Southern States. 
Mr. Peters being c^^rnestly engaged in the breeding, 
grazing and wintering ot fine neat stock, his opinion on 
the economical value of this grass for bay and pasturage, 
is entitled to great weight. It is not unknown in the 
middle and Northern States; and it is there esteemed 
somewhat too coarse for making the first quality of hay. 
We are inclined to believe that there are a number of 
varieties, and perhaps distinct species, of avenas grow- 
ing wild in this country. Dr. Gray says the Avena elatior 
was introduced from Europe; which Dr. Dewey, (high 
authority) “doubts, as it is found in such situations in 
our own country.” Meaning in places w'here nature, not 
man, had planted it. Professor Gray says it is absurd- 
ly called “Grass of the Andes.” 
Perhaps so ; but the association may have some value,, 
nevertheless. As three and a half centuries have elapsed 
since Columbus discovered this continent, and emigrants 
from Europe began to bring seeds from the Old World to 
the New, it is no easy task to say with certainty what 
plants have been introduced, acclimated, and become 
wild in this country, and what are indigenous, in many 
cases. Dr. Dewey suggests the possibility of the intro-- 
duction of this grass into South America and New Mexi- 
co from Spain. He says it is not mentioned among Sin- 
clair’s English Grasses, as cultivated in England ; while 
in Muhlenburg’s Graminae, it is said to be cultivated in 
New Fngland and Pennsylvania. 
Ifa grass, either identical with this, or similar to it in 
habit and nature, flourishes in the South of Europe, the 
fact increases the chances of its doing well in the cotton- 
growing States. Its coarseness and harshness, when 
grown on rich land, may be softened by thick seeding,, 
and early cutting for hay. This we recommend where 
one does not care to save the seed of his crop. 
We do not wish to criticise the remarks of any of the 
writers for the Cultivator^ on grasses ; but that some of 
them are too sanguine we have no doubt. It is truly a 
noble field for Experiment ; and no one should jeopard 
his reputation, or damage an imp'irtant interest by hasty, 
or exaggerated statements, 'lirri'., patience and perse- 
verence will develop the best grasses for the South. Our 
object is to keep the subject constantly before the public ;. 
for these fiesh-and manure forming, these milk and wool- 
producing plants, are invaluable to agriculture. 
In travelling North, we no sooner reached the marl dis- 
tricts, neat- P-etersbuirg, in Virginia, and paired on over 
the artificially limed farms and lime-stone lands in Mary- 
land, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New 
York, than we became again deeply impressed with the 
es.sential value of the calcarious element in the production 
of ebreals, and all other grasses. The difl’erence between 
the grass, both in quantity arid quality, grown on an acre 
in Monroe county, New York, aixl Clarktjounty, Georgia, 
is wonderful. Five thousand of Ketchum’.s Mowing Ma- 
chines will be manufactured in Buffalo-this year, and sold 
to farmers at a cost of more than five hundred thousand 
dollars. A few days since the writer was present where 
there were assemliled nearly two thousand farmers to 
witness the trial of six or eight different machines of this 
kind. Manny’s Reaper and Mower, made at Hoosic 
Falls, New York, and Ketchum’s, above referred to, oper- 
ated the best. Farm labor is so high and scarce, that 
agriculturists buy labor-saving machines with uncommon 
avidity. The harvesting of grain and hay in all countries 
where these staples are extensively grown, is an important 
operation. A good machine cuts from ten to fifteen acre.'^ 
