The Progress. (Shreveport, La.) 1892-1900, 1894-08-11
Mr., President, Ladies and Gentlemen:

r.
When the secretary of your associ,
alton informed me some few days
ago of your meeting, and invited me
TO take part in the discussion of the
subject, "On Forage Crops-How to
Grow and How to Cure Them"
did not think that | was intended as
one of the principal speakers.
Although I have not given the sub
iect any special thought l will en-
deavor to give my views on the same,
for it is unquestionably one OF the
most important subjects that pre-
SCENTS itself to the farmers of North
Louisiana, and one in which | am
personally very largely concerned. l
ain perhaps the only one present,
who, at one stroke, turned a large
cotton plantation into farm, aban-
doning cotton altogether, and substl-
tuting for it such crops as we gener-
ally find on farms all through the
North.
Right here I wish explain, how
ever, that it is not my intention to im-
press the audience with the idea that
I deem it necessary, or even advlsa-
BILE, in order to succeed as an agrlcul-
tlralist, to abandon the growing OF
cotton altogether wholly; on the con-
trsry, as long as cotton can be raised
proitably, it should, for several rea-
sons. remain on the list Of crops OF
all Southern farmers, and it is only
dine to certain conditions that cot
ton crop was omitted from my budget
OF farming.
Perhaps the quickest way of pre-
sentiDg my vie"s on the subject
under consideration will be by telling
Won what I have done, and propose
tn do in the near future. / may state
that in the planning of my under
taking l have been largely guided by
the results obtained at this Expert
ment Station, and by those of neigh
boring States: and that, as far as Can
see at present, my hopes may all be
realized.
I have something like 700 acres
under the plow-10O acres of this
rented ont and, of course, is planted
ncotton; 23O acres I planted in corn
lis acres in German millet; II acres
in sorghum; 10 acres in alfalfa; q
airs were in Irish potatoes; 70 acre
are now 10 sweet potatoes; nearly lo'
acres were planted in oats, all o
which cut for hay, while the oat
we're in the dough; some 40 acres ar
in COW peas; 10 acres in onions;
acres were in cabbage, and about b
acres are in water melons. A part o
this land bears now the second crol
and when once get things in goo
running order propose to max
three full crops of goodly porto
of nv land. You will notice, thai
that I AIN largely interested in tn
growing, and hence, in the curing
forage crops.
Now, how to grow them: In tt
first place I select some OF the bes
If not the best land Oh the plantat1o
This is plowed up with heavy l6-ine
Western turn plows, three hea'
horses to each plow, breaking tt
land thoroughly from 6 to 10 inch
in depth, according to the nature
the soil. Then, if the soil is clodt
run heavy disc harrow. with TO
horses abreast, twice over the groun
This is followed by a three-hol
Thomas harrow, twice at least, a
oftener if necessary, crossing
blowing at different angles, so as
make the surface as smooth
possible. It is always my aim
prepare the ground as good as is p
sible. Now I SOW the land with
broadcast feeder, then harrow it OF
more, twice with three-ho
Thomas harrow. This particu
method applies 60 the planting
millet and alfalfa. OF course,
smaller seed are sown they must
be narrowed under deeply, but o
covered very slightly. My neighb
have often told inc that / spend
much time in the preparation OF s
that I pillow too deeply and harl
too often; but / tell them |
cranky on that subject and thai
shall stick to it. But l have {
ho,~l ALo,o No, ,,bhnro ax al OF ~, IN