THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
aud lowered the water level below them, and 
have given the sun a chance to warm the soil. 
You see “circumstances alter cases" as I think 
some one has pointed out before, and what 
would have been an excellent method in a wet 
season upon heavy land, lias simply destroyed 
the crop in this light, warm, dry, sandy soil. 
It was wise in Fred to plow but a dozen rows, 
for the labor of planting has been all lost.” 
“Not quite lost;” I replied, “ for it has 
given you a chance to make a useful appli¬ 
cation of the result of au experiment, by 
which Is shown that plowing and root-pruu- 
iug corn may fail on light soil in a dry sea¬ 
son.” 
“ Well, you can look at it in that light," re¬ 
plied Dr. Jones ; “ but I would like to add that 
there is a good deal of harm done by general¬ 
izing, and by blindly following the example of 
this or that man, or taking this or that man's 
advice without considering the difference ex¬ 
isting iu the circumstances. I have six acres 
of corn iu the flat, aud to-day, after the rains 
of the past three days, the ground is all under 
water, excepting the tops of the ridges where 
the corn stands. My corn has dry feet, if the 
water stays for a week ; but yours, where it is 
cultivated flat, is only nicely moist, aud may he 
worked to-day, if you wished. Now my corn 
is better thau the best of yours, and yet it was 
plowed more deeply than yours; some of the 
ridges are 18 inches from top to bottom.” 
“ You are not out of the woods yet aud can't 
afford to halloo; wait until you come to husk 
your crop, aud I think you will find the deep 
plowing hus shortened the ears, ” said the old gen¬ 
tleman. “The roots must have some ground to 
run and spread in, and iu those drills they have 
not two feet. That is too elosc pruning, I 
think. I like to see corn plowed, uni always 
plowed my corn, but I never plowed out the 
middles deeper thau the roots would run across 
the rows. I have often seen the ground washed 
out of the middles by heavy rains and the roots 
have run across both ways from hill to hill, and 
the ground was full of them. Then you have 
good corn aud long cans, well filled.” 
“ Well done, old friend,” replied Mr. Martin, 
“ that is quite a long speech for you, but it is 
full of sense. Do you know what made those 
roots run from row to row ? They were after 
the manure which you plowed in and mixed 
up with the soil, while Dr. Jones has the ma¬ 
nure dropped in the rows and the roots have 
no inducement to travel here and there for 
nothing. They are just staying where they 
can find something to feed on. Is not that 
right, Doctor ?” 
“ You may be right,” replied Dr. Jones ; “ I 
never knew of a root of a plant leaving rich 
feeding ground to wander iu poor soil; roots 
have a sort of instinct for finding food.” 
“If that is the ease,” I rejoined, “those 
rows that were ridged iu my field have bebu 
starved, because the manure was plowed in, 
aud the deep plowing has cut them off as well 
as dried up the soil. It is clear that working 
corn with, a plow in light land and iu a dry 
season will not answer. Now let us look at 
the cultivated rows. These that arc weedy iu 
the rows were worked with the common culti¬ 
vator and the ground was kept flat. A good 
deal of kancl-hoeing has been done here. The 
next rows were worked with a horse-hoe that 
has a small plow on each side, by which the 
soil is thrown on to each row. These are clean 
aud free from weeds, aud no hand-hoeing has 
been done. Yet the corn is far better thau ou 
the other cultivated rows.” 
“If you had plauted the corn in squares and 
cultivated them both ways, it would have been 
cleaner,” said the old gontlemuu. 
“No doubt,” I replied; “but this coru was 
planted with a corn-planter, and four acres 
were put in the ground and finished aud some 
fertilizer wub dropped in the hill at the same 
time, all in half a day. If the ground had 
been furrowed out both ways and the seed 
dropped and covered by hand, it would have 
taken four days. The seed is dropped in the 
rows 18 inches apart, aud there will be twice as 
much fodder aud considerably more ears thau 
if it was plauted iu squares three feet apart. 
The weeds, you see, are clneily the fault of the 
poor tool, which only stirs the ground and 
does not throw any in the row, as you cau 
see by the other rows that were horse-hoed. 
We have some corn planted in squares, and 
by-and-by Fred will be able to tell you the dif¬ 
ference iu the yield." 
“Planting iu rows is the best; there is no 
doubt of it, ’ said Dr. Jones. “No grouud has 
yet produced a crop equal to its natural capac¬ 
ity. Dr. Voelcker has carefully analyzed the 
soil of a field to the depth of 18 inches, aud 
has fouud an enormous quantity of nitrogen 
and phosphoric acid in it. The total amount 
is hardly to bo credited, but it is doubtless 
true. There were 11,(5:35 pounds of phosphoric 
acid and 10,300 pounds of nitrogen per acre 
found in the soil. The 18 inches of soil over 
the whole acre weighed about 7,500,000 pounds, 
so that there was only 1J pound of each ot 
these substances iu the 1,000 pounds of soil, or 
■015 per cent., and there are many soils that 
have more phosphoric acid in them than this ; 
so that the largest crop we could ever raise 
would be far from exhausting the soil of even 
its available measure of fertility, although no 
manure or fertilizer were applied to it. There¬ 
fore, the closer the planting, up to a certain 
point, the more we can or ought to produce. 
This ia proved to some extent by the constaut 
increase iu a corn crop planted in drills over 
one planted in hills, the drill-planting being, 
of course, closer iu the row and the crop being 
equally well worked in cither case.” 
“ I think the Doctor makes too much of that 
experiment of Dr. Voelcker’a,” remarked Mr. 
Martin. “ A hungry man may have a car-load 
of pigs aud a ship-load of flour, but yet he 
could not make a single meal of bread aud 
bacon of the whole ; all that food is unavaila¬ 
ble to him, because it is not in such a condition 
that he cau use it to appease his hunger. It 
was precisely the 6ame with that soiJ. If I re¬ 
member rightly there were only 40 bushels per 
acre of wheat taken, ihe next season, from that 
field examined by Dr. Voelcker and yet there 
was nitrogen and phosphoric acid enough to 
produce several thousand bushels of wheat 
per acre. Why did not that land produce (50 
or 80 or 100 bushels of wheat? Simply be¬ 
cause the plant-food in (he soil was not iu a 
condition for the wheat to make use of it- 
The explanation of the increase of corn in 
drills must be given in some other way. It is 
a fact I can grow more coru by drill planting 
than by hill planting and twice the fodder; 
but the reason to my mind is that in hill plant¬ 
ing the roots do uot occupy all the ground, 
while they do in drill planting.” 
“ That is a good reason, too,” said Dr. Jones, 
“ and you may be right, but I want to hear 
how the cultivation of those beets resulted. 
There is something that, is not yet precisely 
understood iu regard to the effect of loosening 
the surface soil iu dry weather.” 
“ It is a short story,” I replied. “ The rows 
which were cultivated immediately after the 
showers and while they were moist, did not 
dry out, as did those that were worked only in 
the usual manner and without reference to the 
moisture in the soil. The beets apeak for 
themselves. Those in the first rows are twice 
as large as the others, aud all through the 
season (he first rows were never so dry as the 
others, and these never gave any Indication 
that the loose soil gathered any moisture from 
the atmosphere In any way, so as to affect the 
growth of the crop, The effect seemed to be 
that tiie loose ground held its moisture with 
great tenacity, the loose soil actiug as a 
mulch t but, once the soil was dried, all the 
cultivation did not bring any moisture back 
again. The same was noticeable in the corn 
rows. This evidently shows that if we wish 
to gather the benefits from loosening the sur¬ 
face soil, it should he cultivated aud made 
mellow while it ia moist, aud the moisture 
preserved in that way from evaporation ; and 
that if we permit the soil to dry, we cauuot 
bring back the escaped moisture by all the 
cultivation we cau give it.” 
-- 
GREEN VALLEY GRASS—GUINEA GRASS— 
JOHNSON GRASS. 
Eds. Rural Nsw-Yorker:— In the Rural 
of August 1(5, you name a specimen of grass 
sent you from Texas, “Guinea Grass —Sorghum 
luilepense." There are some facts respecting 
tills grass, which may prove of importance to 
dairy farmers anil stock-raisers, especially in 
Southern and Southwestern Stutes. Many 
readers of the Rural are no doubt aware that, 
during last fall aud spring, there was adver¬ 
tised, iu several papers of Northwestern Mis¬ 
souri aud adjacent parts of Iowa, a new forage 
plant by the name of ‘ Green Valley Grass,” 
of which seeds and roots were offered for sale. 
It was said to have been introduced from 
Texas, and formerly from the West Indies, and 
described as a perennial of remarkably vigor¬ 
ous growth, attaining a hight of six to eight 
feet, if not cut, aud yielding six to eight tons 
of good hay per acre, if cut four or five times 
during the season, besides a large amount of 
winter pasture, and, last of all, a great crop 
of roots (rhizomes), which are valuable food 
for hogs. 
Beiug curious to learn more about this won¬ 
derful grass, I wrote to the principal adver¬ 
tiser, inquiring if he could inform me of its 
botanical name, or when it was brought from 
the West Indies, etc.; also asking for a few of 
the roots for experiment. He could not give 
me the desired information, but sent some 
roots, and also such testimony as satisfied me 
that he was not designedly perpetrating any 
fraud or humbug, but that he really believed the 
article to be new and valuable, as was stated. 
I planted the roots in May, during a severe 
drought, which has continued with very little 
relief to this time. The. soil was sandy and 
poor, and no culture or care was given, but the 
plauts grew vigorously and in two mouths at¬ 
tained the hight of six feet and formed heads 
and blossoms, the whole plant resembling a 
slender growth of Indian coru, with finer leaves 
aud tassels, but branches and leaves instead 
of silk or cars. I sent one of the heads to 
Prof. Asa Gray, asking its botauieal name, 
whieli he gave as you have done— Sorghum, 
haltpensc —aud this, I remembered, was the 
name of a Southern grass, of which meution 
was made several years ago, with some high 
commendations, in the Reports of the Depart¬ 
ment of Agriculture. In the reports for 1873 
aud 18711 find a number of extracts from cor¬ 
respondents in Texas and other Southern 
States, describing this grass correctly, but giv¬ 
ing it several local names, as Johnson Grass, 
Guinea Grass and St. Mary’s Grass, and nearly 
all speaking iu lavish terms of its excellence 
for hay and pasture and its wonderfully lux¬ 
uriant growth and ability to withstand heat 
aud drought. Readers who are interested can 
turn to the report aud peruse these articles for 
themselves. 
Indeed, there is so much useful Information 
often contained in these reports that it would 
well pay our farmers to secure copies of them 
through the members of Congress for their 
districts, aud read them in the long winter 
evenings. Pity it is that they so seldom fall 
into the hands of those who would utilize 
them to the best advantage ; but that instead 
they are too often consigned to the waste- 
paper man, unread or merely glanced over. 
It appears that the grass was introduced 
into the Island of Jamaica from Africa, many 
years ago, and from thence to Texas, Florida, 
Louisiana and Alabama, where it has beeu 
known to some extent for the past twenty-five 
years, or longer. It is stated that in 1873 the 
Commissioner of Agriculture, hearing such 
good reports of Guinea Grass, from Jamaica, 
imported seeds by that name and distributed 
them in this country, but supposed the plant 
to be a species of Millet which was also called 
Guinea Grass, and hence it is uncertain, to me 
at least, whether the seeds distributed thus 
were the genuine S. hak'pense or something 
else; and I have never seen a word published 
as to any result from that seed distribution. 
Cau any reader of the RURAL enlighten us 
about it ? And eau anybody inform us why 
this grass, so highly praised and seemingly of 
real value, has not become more generally 
known at the South? 1 would also inquire 
whether anybody has tested the ability of the 
roots to endure freezing or withstand a North¬ 
ern climate. If they will do this, of which I 
have doubts from it* tropical origin, I shall 
expect to find it become a valuable acquisition 
for our dairy and stock farmers, especially in 
seasons of drought like the present. 
Palnesville, O. M. B. Bateham. 
[A number of our readers ean inform Mr. B. 
that the roots are quite tender. We have it 
growing both at the “Rural Farm” aud “Rural 
Grounds,” and shall report in due time.— Eds.] 
Colorado Agricultural College. 
ftitostnal 
COLORADO AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 
Tnis College is located on the southern bank 
of the Cache la Poudre, about six miles east of 
the foot-hills of the snowy range and thirty-five 
miles south of the State line ; it is surrounded 
by a fertile and well-watered region, including 
some of the best agricultural lands in the 
State. 
Its elevation of 5,100 feet above the sea level 
gives it a pure, dry atmosphere, while its 
proximity to the mountains brings it within 
the limit of occasional rains, thus rendering 
the climate pleasant and salubrious and adapt¬ 
ing the soil to the cultivation of the cereals. 
This region, comprising the counties of Lari¬ 
mer, Weld, Boulder, and parts of Arapahoe 
and Jefferson, is rendered accessible from the 
north and south by the Colorado Central Rail¬ 
road, which passes directly through Fort Col¬ 
lins, aud by the Denver Pacific Railway, both 
of which roads eouuect with the "Union Pacific 
at Cheyenne and with the Kausas Pacific at 
Denver. The streams draining tills region, 
the Cache la Pondre, Big Thompson, and other 
tributaries of the South Platte, furnish an in¬ 
exhaustible supply of water for purposes of 
irrigation. It is estimated that the great irri¬ 
gating caual now in process of construction 
aud supplied from the Cache ia Poudre, will 
bring at least 100,000 acres of unproductive 
land under cultivation. The College has been 
most judiciously located with reference to this 
large extent of farming land, iu the midst of 
communities refined and progressive and very 
fast surrounding themselves with all the com¬ 
forts of the most advanced localities in the 
West. 
W. F. Watrous is President of the College ; 
H. Stratton, Secretary; John J. Ryan, Treas¬ 
urer; E. E. Edwards, Pb. D., is President of 
the Faculty ; A. E. Blount, A. M., Professor of 
Practical Agriculture and Farm Superintend¬ 
ent ; F. J. Aunia, A. B., Professor of Chemis¬ 
try and Mathematics. 
The objec t of the school is to impart a thorough 
and practical knowledge of all those branches 
and sciences that pertain to agriculture and 
the mechauic arts. Tuition is free to all with¬ 
in the State. A matriculation fee of £5.00 is 
required of each student ou eutering and an 
incidental fee of $1.00 each term. Board and 
lodging can be obtained for from $4.00@$6.00 
per week. 
Thus it will appear that our farmers may 
send their sous to this iustitution for $250 per 
year. Removed from the temptations of cities, 
favored with a delightful climate, instructed 
in all branches of learning essential to prepare 
the student for agriculture or for the usual 
occupations of life, this College is fitted to ac¬ 
complish great good, and we heartily wish it 
may be appreciated to the extent of securing 
for it a high prosperity and an endless career, 
Jmm ®0|ics. 
THE COMMON SCHOOLS, THE FARMERS’ 
HOPE, 
Mucu has beeu said and written in regard to 
an improved culture of the rural classes. 
They are demanding something more than 
hitherto, aud assertiug for themselves a higher 
position iu the social scale. While there are 
steps backward as well as forward in all move¬ 
ments towards a higher civilization, we may 
be sure that the end here sought will be reach¬ 
ed. Agriculture in all its departments must, 
in years to come, command a higher class of 
talent and a broader culture thau iu the past. 
While we are incliued to give high honors to 
the rural press, to the associations and soci¬ 
eties formed to promote rural interests, and to 
agricultural colleges, where they at all rec¬ 
ognize the object of their creation, the more 
intelligent among the masses are feeling that 
they can justly dernaud something more fo 
the children iu the common schools thau ha 
hitherto been offered them. We ask that tlx 
culture of the common school shall bo turned 
in some slight degree towards rural aud Indus 
trial interests. A more general diffusion ol 
knowledge relating to agriculture and indus 
trial pursuits ia demanded. Oar children need 
culture that shall impel towards farm life. 
This eanuot be attained by the instrumental 
ities now employed. 
Hence we propose that the common school 
shall bo made more tributary to our rural in¬ 
terests. We want au eluinentary course of in¬ 
struction iu matters, both practical and scien¬ 
tific, that relate directly to rural life. This 
should be so elementary in its character that 
the great mass of our children may acquire it 
by the time they are fourteen years old. By 
this means the common school will, to a cer¬ 
tain extent, become the training school of our 
agricultural and industrial colleges. These 
latter institutions will then have opened to 
them a much wider field of usefulness and the 
