every iirf'lrcr r.itj
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:;l::re to i;;tprovc.--Jou:;&Q,
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. Pnljli .:; : 1 en the first of cvery month,
, :.:,..:: a y::ak, invariably in advance.
TT. 'Advcrticcmcnts, viot exceeding twelve lines
for each and every insertianj'ono dollar containing
more at the same rates.
From the Southern Cultivator.
GRASSES FOR THE SOUTH
GUINEA GRASS MEANS GRASS. ;& '
BY REV. JOHN BACIIMAN, D. D., OF CHARLESTON.
Editors Sqetuern Cultivator: In my yester
day's Visit to the Agricultural Fair at Atlanta, the
pleasure I derived from mating wth many old friends
and others known to me by characters, and Svhom I
was desirous of meeting, was somewhat marred on
. being reminded of my own negligence, in not having
replied to several correspondents, who, for two years
past, have written to me for my opinion of tho grass
recently introduced into tho Southern States, under
the name of Guinea Grass. I have several excuses
which ray partial friends, among the rest Col. Sum
ner, who had written very prcssingly on the subject,
would, I am sure, readily accept ; but I think it the
best and shortest mode to plead guilty to the charge
of negligence, to promise amendment, and to give an
evidence of it in this communication, which I am
sure you will publish, if for no other purpose than
that of enabling rao to . make an apology to those
...... t -J V -J V - . .
I '
vlio were entitled to better treatment at my ha
To return to the gras3, I -will endeavor in some
what of a professional habit, to show :
1st. What it is not.
2nd. What it i3.
3rd. Offer a few reflections on this singular and
providental production.
: 1. It is jiot tjio Guinea Grass. Of this I can "
speak very positively. The Guinea Grass (Uolcus
Polygamum) bears a general outward resemblance to
this variety it is not unlike it in the shape of tho
leaves and. in the rapidity of its growth, but in all
other essential particulars it differs very widely. ' I
cultivated a square in my garden in Charleston, of
the true Guinea Grass for more than 25 years. I
procured the seeds from my neighbor, the late Mr.
Poinsett, having, at that time, no other object in
view than that of obtaining for my herbarium spe
cimens of a grass that had contributed so largely to
the then prosperity of Jamaica and other West In
dia Islands. So luxuriant, however, was its growth,
that I was induced to cultivate it as green food for
my cows and horses. The great difficulty was in
preserving seeds, which dropped as soon as they
ripened, and the roots were invariably killed by tho
first frost of winter. At length, I adopted the plan
of taking up a boxful of roots and removing them
to the green-house during the winter, to be sub-divided
and transplanted in spring. Such, however
was the character of the delicate fibrous roots that
like those of4he lemon grass, (Andropogon schaerian .
thus) similarly constituted, a great majority of tho
plants perished by tho removal. My next and only