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Trborough, CEllSecornbe County, JV. C.) Saturday, An
gust 17, 1833.
Vol. IXJVo 51.
From the Fayetteville Observer.
Sampson County, July 20, 1833.
Gama Grass. Mr. Hale: When we
wore together, a short lime since, 1 pro
mised to send you some account and de
scription of the Gama Grass, with the
result of such experimental I had made
with it.
The first notice I saw of this Grass,
was by Doctor Hardeman, of Missouri;
whose account of its wonderful produc
tion, and valuable properties, may be
found in the 8ih vol. of the American
Farmer, page 244. I considered the
calculations he made of results, visionary,
and had forgotten it.
It, however, attracted the attention of
Mr. James Magoffin, of Alabama, who
procured some seed, and lias now been
cultivating it several years. The result
of his experiment may be seen in the 13th
vol. of the American Farmer, pages 50,
143 and 215. Alsot in the 4th vol. of
the Southern Agriculturist, pages 312
and 475.
Further experiments with this grass
are detailed by Mr. William Ellison, in
the 4th vol. of the Southern Agricultu
rist, page 404 and the 5th vol. of the
same work, page 5. To these several
communications, I would refer such of
vuur readers as have those works, for a
heller and more particular description of
the grass, than 1 cm ivo them. N. B.
Surh farmers as can afford to pay the cost
of the American Farmer and Southern
Agriculturist, and neglect to subscribe for
them, or one of them, do not deserve the
benefit of any improvement or discovery
in Agriculture
The combined results of the experi
ments of these gentlemen show, that the
quantity of hay which this grass yields, is
hir greater than any heretofore tried.
That the quality of the hay is equal to
nny other; and tiiat, both wjheti green, and
when cured, it is greedily eaten by stock
f nit kinds. Mr. Magoffin informs us,
lie has actually made at the rate of ninety
tons of green hay per acre in one year
equal tn between 20 and 30 tons of cured
laiy. Dr. Hardeman states, that a single
rat, covering a circle, the diameter of
which was too feet, yielding at one cutting
lbs. of green hay, which when dried
Wl-ighed 30 lbs; and consequently, that
J1" any of ground filled with roots equal
ly productive, would yield more than 270
tons of hay. However exorbitant these
'founts may appear at first, the high
standing of these gentlemen leaves no
ro'Hn to doubt their accuracy. My own
pnriment induce me to believe, that
under circumstances, in all regards fa
vrable, they maybe realised.
O f t ! 1 1 immense value of this grass, to
u ia a hot climate, and on a sandy soil,
doubt can exist.
have ascertained the following facts,
Vdi certainty. That it grows sponta
neously and luxuriantly, in our country or
j1 '"vial bottom, and rotten lime stone
nds. I have planted it in a poor sandy
0Qiona clay foundation, (such as in
' - - - i
the general quality ofthe 8tiff pine jand
or our countrv.1
,, j ouuu niu origin-
ally as barren and as arid, as the deser s
nLV ' h bese 90i,8 wdl ured,
produce ,t abundantly. Even the Ion
d "h
ued from 23d May to 1st August, with
yth of July ) dld not materially affect its
rr 'at ltm7,bC CUt BS vas th.
1st or May, and the cutting repeated eve-
rytlnrty days, until frost. It ought to be
planted in drill three feet apart, and two
feet space between the root. An acre
will then contain 7,350 roots. A single
root, of the second year's growth, (on the
dry sand hill,) at three cuttings, has this
year already yielded 7 lbs of green hay,
and will without doubt yield at least as
mucn more betoro frost. At that rate an
acre of pure sand hill, well manured,
would yield 55 tons of green hay, equal
to about 13 tons of cured hay, of a quanti
ty as good as the best blade fodder.
In .January last, 1 drilled some seed,
in drills two feet apart, with seed drop
ped at intervals of six inches, intended for
transporting next fall. The whole
ground is now covered with a mass of
grass 2 1-2 feet high. On the 10th of
this month I cut and weighed the product
of one drill 35 feet long. It yielded 25
lbs. of green hay which when cured, pro
duced 3 lbs of delightful forage. At
this rate, an acre would yield 15,750 lbs.
of green hay at one cutting. It may yet
be cut three times more, and conscnuent-
ly, the product would be 63,000 lbs. of
green hay, from seed planted in January
last. The product of old roots is from
two to three fold. These seeds are
planted on pine land, with a poor sandy
loam on the surface, with a clay founda
tion; well manured. 1 have not made
any experiment with this grass, on any
other soils than those above specified, but
1 know it grows much more luxuriantly
on alluvial bottom, and rotten lime stone
lands.
Mr. Magoffin is certainly mistaken
when lie supposed this grass is found
indigenous only in the western prairies.
He (furnished me with a few seeds of his
own raising. 1 also procured some from
Mr. Ellison of South Carolina, which
grew in Fairfield District, and some from
Gen. Owen, which grew spontaneously
on his plantation in Bladen county in this
State, on the alluvial soil of the Cape
Fear.
They are all planted near each other;
and are, unquestionably, the same spe
cies' of grass. There is not the least
difference between that found in this
State, and that from South Carolina.
That sent me by Mr. Magoffin, from Ala
bama, is a little different in colour being
of a paler hue, and of a little finer texture.
This grass is, without doubt, the
'Tripsacum of botanists. In Elliot's
Botany of South Carolina and Georgia,
vol. 2d, page 522 two varieties are des
cribed: 1st Dactyloides Root, perennial
Stem 4 to 5 feet long. Leaves large, 3
feet long, 11-2 inches wide. Flowers,
in terminal spikes- Spikes numerous;
very rare have only seen it growing on
the margin of the Ogeechee river. Flow
ers from May to July.'
2d. Monostachyon Root, perennial
stem 3 to 5 feet long. Leaves 1 to 3
feet long. 1 inch wide. Spike, solitary
Flowers, in terminal spikes. Grows
abundantly on the Sea Islands, (particu
larly on Paris Island) and along the mar
gin of the salt water Flowers from Au
gust to October.'
For any practical purpose, there is no
difference between these two varieties.
They are found growing togetner.
The following characteristics will
branches, springing from a common root,
Which is tuberous in its form for about
three inches, and terminates in many
small, but strong radicles. These bran
ches, m their origin form the common
root, and have n peculiar arrangement;
being produced from two opposite sides
ofthe tuberous portion onlv. nrirl ffpn no
ting from it as an angle in opposite direc
tions, gives to this part of the plant a flat
miu je.
The leaves which f previous to the np.
riod of flowering) all issue from the root,
are of a deep green colour, from 2 to 3
feet long and from 1 to U inch wide. nr
shaped like a blade of fodder, but are
sawed or rough on the edges, particular
ly towards the point. . The leaves com
mence in a sheath, at the bottom, which
incloses and covers the original of seve
ral other interior leaves. About the last
of May, a number of flower stems shoot
up from different parts of the bunch, and
grow from 3 to 7 feet high, and terminate
in one, two, or more finger like appenda
ges (called by botanists spikes.) The
upper end of the spike, resembles a sin
gle spike ofthe tassel of indian corn, and
has a blossom (farina) on it. The seeds,
(which vary from 3 to 6 on each spike)
are imbedded immediately below this tas
sel, and when flowering, each has a sin
gle tag, of a deep purple color, resem
bling the silk of Indian corn. The tas
sel drops as soon as it has shed its pol
len, and then the seeds ripen, one by one,
and drop off. The seeds are imbedded
on opposite sides of the stem, and at
tached together, after the manner of the
rattles of a rattle snake.
The flowers stem is jointed and cloth
ed with leaves much shorter than those
which proceed from the root, the sheaths
of which embrace the stem, to within a
short space of the next joint. It is chan
nelled on alternate sides like a stalk of
corn. When full grown, it puts out
branches at nearly every joint, which
terminate and produce seeds like the
main stem.
I have been thus particular in my des
cription, to enable persons to search out
this grass. I am satisfied it will be the
source of much wealth and comfort in
our pine country particularly. It is cer
tainly the spontaneous product of our
own estate. I Know it grows in iew
Hanover; Brunswick and Bladen Coun
ties, and have been informed it is found
in Craven and in Orange and may pro
bablvi on any of our alluvial bottoms.
Now is the time to search for it. It is
in bloom and more readily identified, by
the peculiarity of the seed. When not
in bloom, it very much resembles some
other grasses which are different in their
nature and not sd valuable. I might add
much more regarding it but again refer
your readers to the essays above referred
to.
Very respectfully, yours.
WM. B. MEARES.
tained during a preceding season) and
com; and the voyageurs had hot this fare
allowed to them. No one has we be
lieve, pretended to account for the dis
appearance of the immense herds of buf
falo which covered those regions. It
was observed by persons who were in the
Assineboihe, and who have been in the
habit of navigating the Missouri, that
points at which vast numbers of buffa
loes had always been known to herd, were
deserted or but a single one, now and
then seen."
?A machine has been invented in
Cincinnati for cutting wheat, or any oth
er small grain, by horse power. It is
stated that it will, when propelled by two
horses, cut as fast as eight persons cat!
bind. A fair trial has been made of it,
in the presence of several members of
the agricultural society of Hamilton
county. It met their fullest approbation,
and the editor of the Cincinnati Adverti
ser, who has seen the machine, expresses
the opinion that it may be applied to cut
ting grass also.
ren
der this Grass obvious to common obser
vers: .
; fnfirr bunches, measuring
about two feet across and three m height,
which tufts are composed of numerous
A well known writer in the Newbern
Spectater of the 19th inst. (H. B. C.)
states that during the last year he found
the Gama grass on the shore of the Neuse
river, and that a gentleman in Florida as
sured him that he had found it in that
Territory. Editor of the Obsei cer.
Famine in the far lVcst.-Te St.
Louis Republican, of the 16th ult. says,
"We learn by the steamboat Assme
boine, B. Pratte, Jun. master, arrived
on Thursday night last, from the mouth
of the Yellow Stone, that Famine a ca
lamity more dreadful than the cholera,
threatens the inhabitants ofthe immense
region of the Upper Missouri. No buf
falo had appeared upon the plains of that
country during the past spring; mH lne
Indians, in the thriftless economy which
governs them at all times, were, in con
sequence, destitute of the means of sub
sistence. Even the traders were com
pelled to subsist on buffalo. tongues (ob-
fc?-The last C incinnati Gazette states
that in every part of the great Mississip
pi Valley, the crops are most abundant,
and are generally saved. In Missouri
and Illinois the wheat is said to be re
markably fine.
G7At no former harvest in Ohio, have
we had better crops, or more favorable
weather for securing them; The crops
of Corn and Oats also promise abundant
crops. Ohio paper,
(tThe late tremendous rains "down
east," have had the distressing effect asi
a writer pathetically informs us, of pre
venting the growth of radishes! Not a
single radish, says he, shall we have. If
the crops of cucumbers should also bo
cut off, it would ruin half the doctors irv
that part ofthe country.
Preserved Eggs. We published F,ome
time since, a paragraph stating tha eg?s
are kept for three months in Fra nce, in
lime Water. In consequence of Uiis, a la
dy of East Woods, L. I. has sent us a
present of a basket of eggs of geese, tur-
.1 I it'll
ties ana oucks, wnicn nave reen preser
ved for a year in lime water. As far na
we can discover, they are as good to tho
taste and trie signt as tney ever were. A
two gallon pot was fillod with errcr nnrt
about a pint of slacked lime prepared for
wmie wiisning, was put in, and the ves
sel filled with wa'cer and a board laid
over. The water was never changed
and appears clear and eweet. The same
lady has for several years kept eggs a
few months in this manner. L.l. Star.
Tomatoes Tarts. As Tomatoes are
now in season, we will be excused for
balling the attention of Housekeepers to
the virtues of this valuable vegetable.
Besides their uses (as shown in Nos. 2
and 3 of this paper,) for Ketchup, Pickle,
Preserves, Soup, Gravies, &c, it is not
generally known that they answer a val
uable purpose for Pies and Tarts. . We
have eaten, of them ourselves and think
them li'ale inferior to peaches, prepared
in a similar way. Take ripe Tomatoes,
peal and cut them in slices, then stew
ttiem with sugar, spice, &c, afterwards
lay them in a crust and bake.
With half a chance, Tomatoes may be
raised in a great abundance in any gar
den they take np but little room, and
require but little attention and are in sea
son from early in summer till late in the
fall. They are capable of being used in
a greater variety of ways than any other
vegetable or fruit we are acquainted with;
and are excellent in every one.
Southern Planter.
CTNo man can get riches of himself
but by means of others.