Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-04-27
Stock Raising in the sonth.

The subject, above all others, that | am
/ disposed to "harp" on is that of stock
raising in the South. l would like to say
/ something about it every week or two, if
/ did nothing more than to repeat the sim
/ pie advice, Take care of what stock you
have, Southern farmers, and take as
prompt steps as you can to provide for
more, and as fast as you can make pasture
and save plenty Of forage. Increase your
stock" 1t will at no distant day pay you
handsomely. The old world will eetmuch
of her beef, butter and mutton from the
shores of the South Atlantic States Just
as soon as we are prepared to supply it
/ freely. Stock are about as cheap now as
they will ever be again probably. Com
pared with other sections of this country
our Southern lands VIII be IOW-priced for
many years, and yet we have lands val
ued at IS to $l2 per acre that will make
as much stock food as lands in other Sec
tions that are valued and taxed at $50 to
Sl5O per acre. We have a great Opportu-
nifty if we will only seize upon il. A re-
NAL and appropriate climate, an album
dance of native and other adaptable
grasses and grains not exceeded by any
other section, there is nothing whatever
IN the way OF the highest practical sue
cess If we will only give it the business
attention necessary to make it successful.
There are thousands and thousands of
| acres OF land in Georgia on which at this
time is very little timber growth that
might be, with a little expense, converted
into good pastures in few years that
would produce $50 to $50 worth Of beef
yearly per acre. Some Of it more than
this, and some less. Farmers generally
In the South are not satisfied unless they
can get quick returns and are indlsDosed
to enter upon projects that delay the profits
four or five years. They seem to forget
that there are very few undertakings that
pay high profits at the very start. Ex-
perIence is necessary to perfect success
usually, and it is with stock farming as
with other occupations, much better to
proceed gradually and cautiously, and
enlarge as our growing experience may
encourage us to do so. A beginning must
be made, and if we cannot make as big a
start as we would like let us make the
best we can, even if it be small. "TalI
oaks from little acorns grow" and we Will
never have the tree if the acorn is not
planted.
In well-managed stock farming there is
required very small investment in labor
compared with the returns. No constant
turning of the soils is required. II de-
mands system, but little hard work COM
pared to cotton farming. Lands are i'm
proved rapidly by stock farming and will
increase in value steadily after a start has
once been made. Granting that cotton
can be made for : cents (and very few can
make it at that price), how much clear
profit per acre can be made in growing it
as a specially in the older sections OF the
South when the soils are badly worn and
washed into gullies!
What other than permanent grass and
stock VIII restore these rolling lands of
the South especially to fair state Of fer
tility-that part of them that we cannot
probably intensity on? This question
will be answered. sooner or later, but those
who answer it first will be the ones that
reap the richest reward. S. &C.
MuledgeUilte, Ga.