Houma Ceres. [volume] (Houma, Parish of Terrebonne, La.) 1855-18??, 1856-09-27
HAY.

.=--,--lxf HAY. F7 H#fE-
4 NAV, perhaps, seem an increditablt
.,,t.ment to some Of our readers, that the
.,oo of the United States amounts t.
y ~ he same, as the total marked value
sth. entire cotton crop. Such is, never
s.1... The fact. According to the censu:
e1aso. the value Of the cotton crop 70,
,.Io. amounted to $9s, 6O3, 72O, while
=. value ofthe hay crop amounted to $780,
sro4e4. Ofthis crop, a very inconsider'
u Il. nroportion is produced at the South
g, instance the entire hay crop of the
r.;on is estimated l3,s3S,642 tons, and
tAbjs amount. 5e@Ff Z
NJ England produced 3,463,252 tons.
-. Made States aa $685., 1857 Sc
-. Western States 3.522,73s
r. Southern States 702,s62 :"
TIE single State Maine produces more
,.,,b,r all the Southern states embracing
S,rl.nd, Virginia, North and South Car.
Mn. Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Lou.
;.;,s. Texas and Arkansas. Another fact
~tIh gives Importance to the hay crop as
.ntof the agricultural productions Of the
.r.tr r IS, that while the total number OF
-. n the Union, devoted to the cuitiva-
i, If cotton amounts TO only 5000, 900,
4. number of acres hay, amounts to 49,
100000.
Tie inquiry presents itself to view ofthe
verv preat disparity in the production Of
hi; crop North and South whether there
!, any peculiar adoption in the soil and eli
mate of the Northern States, that will &C
count for this difference. We think not !;
we believe ours is as good grass country
as New England or the Middle States.
We have not the same varieties, truly, nor
indeed. have we any SO celebrated, such
As clover, timothy, herd grass or blue
pr.ss but we have varieties peculiar to
our soil, which are not at all inferior. and
which are not 70 celebrated, only because
they have not attracted attention as con-
shutting the most important crop of the
country. The crab grass improperly
,ouetimes called crop grass. the crow foot
tie bermuda, and the musquit grasses,
which make just as good pastures, yield
ju.t IS abundant hay crops, and are just as
utrtive to stock, as the grasses Of the
Nonh. and we think the day will come
when they will prove just as valuable and
celebrated. Why, with the native grasses
uour command, do we not rival the produc-
liol d hay Simply because we can make
nofs money Ut something else. There is
plrle economy, either individual or po-
lic.l, 10 arti6cially attempting to divert
upial Or labor into any branch Of indus.
". merely for the purpose Of diversifying
lie pursuits Of the people. or for any other
purpose SO long as they can be more prof.
tally enployed in something else. As
losg aihe Southern Siates.can make more
m~rIen cotton than on hay, cotton will
constitute the great market productions of
IL country, and it is right that it should
don. - Hf9 #x6E4
i 11ere Are localities, however, in the
Sslk where either from the peculiarities
.fthe situation or Of the soil, the hay crop
viii prove the most profitable that can be
Md and the object we have in view in
Aaaaicle, is to call the attention of our
Abtsn 70 the superiority ofthis crop for
- consumption on our own plantation
ssshs fodder crop. While it may not
aaaaesso profitable q market crop as
sA~ pFoductions at the South, except in
oeitaia localities to which we have alluded
amy besanl we think is, our true policy
y Nbstiiais it as an article of home con-
sqtisa. 6r the corn fodder, almost uni
wnaliy med at the South 81 81 III
Eaiaaaiag the nutritive value Of corn
tsf I'D ny equally, the advantages in
nsor q " latter crop may be briefly
aaledas pillows i @ ia 81 .as
lasssdisasy yield Of corn fodder to the
~ nay b stated At an average Of $50 lbs
sals IL aame land would yield, in crab
9ss ARaaasenge of2,OOO lbe., that is
asseas segrasslwould yield rs much rs
2OO aesesof corn. aastssa
iae.e qpaatity Of hay can be saved
. No tassal With moro comfort to the
noofen, IN corn fodder. 5.ssse VI ssah
a'isa ~ 1eriessly mootedl question
pfse anters,i whether il docs
tofo - ~ more to pull the blades