The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1901-01-02
STOCK RAISING in SOUTH CAR
OLINA.

increase rapidly within the next few
years. Formerly the want of a market
close at hand has had some effect on
the profits to be derived thercfrom,
especially in the line of dairy farming.
But the cotton factories, which are
rapidly increasing in the South, furnish
employment to a large number OF men
who by force of circumstances must
buy their milk and butter, thus open
lug a market for dairy products as well
as beef.
Until the last few years there has
been a prejudice against Southern
cattle in the Northern markets, but
this is being overcome by the introduce
ton Of better blood. Tie stockmcn of
the West have made a great deal Of
money by raising cattle and shipping
TO the corn belt to be finished for the
market. South Carolina may soon be
able to compete with the West in this
line. 1t is true that we have no broad
prairie covered with natural grasses
for grazing, but the hills of the up
country may be made to produce OK
cellent pasture the year round.
The whole State is well watcrcd.
The numerous streams flowing from
tho mountains toward the coast furnish
al abundant water supply not only for
agriculture, but for manufacturing.
Numerous springs abound in The hill
country, and artesian wells are numer-
u in the coast region. The average
rainfall for the State is about 47-30
inches (average for five years, 5000,
inclusive), and is fairly well distributed.
A complete crop failure has never been
known.
The temperature is one of the many
advantages the stockman has. The
average temperature for five years, be-
ginning with 1895, is G3 degrees. The
thermometer rarely goes to zero in the
winter, and then only for a few hours,
and in summer seldom reaches 100 in
the shade. This mild climate does
away with the necessity of costly
barns, which the Northern stockman is
forced to provide, n shed being all that
IS necessary to keep the cattle comfort
able. Lumber ls cheap on account OF
the numerous saw-mills. and one Is
enabled to construct barns and silos a
small cost.
The long growing season enables The
stockman to grow two and sometimes
three crops a season on the same land
For example, 4 crop of small grair
may be sown OH q piece of land, ant
after il has been removed a crop o.
sorghum may be grown from which
two cuttings may be had. Whcr,
sorghum is used for soiling three cut
tings may be had from one seeding
One ton of sorghum hay can be grown
here between the time of the first fros
in New York and the time of the frs
frost here. Corn or cowpcas may b,
grown, after small grain, for ensllag,
or hay.
While corn is not the importan
, crop here, it does well, aud as larg,
crops may be grown as in the corr
= belt; in fact, the largest yield of corr
8 ever reported as being grown on on,
acre was grown in South Carolina.
, Bermuda is our best grass for pas
, turc. 1t can be made to grow on an,
kind of soil. On strong land il vii
make excellent hay. 1t grows durin!
:, the dry season, while other grasses ar
dormant, and is not injured by tramp
ing. When the grass is once establish
ed it will furnish excellent pasture TO
many years, and when desired il ma,
, be killed out by a shade of pea vine
D during the summer, but, unlike man,
other grasses, it is killed to the groun,
: by frost.
Orchard grass makes early sprln!
and fall pasture, and on strong LAM
makes very good hay.
Crab grass makes a very line Qualit'
of hay, and yields from one to two tom
per acre. This grass comes in tn,
fields after the crop has been removed
just as pigeon grass does in the Nortl
and West.
AL legumes do well here. The COW
pea is much better than clover, as
crop of from two to three tons of GOO
hay may be made within three or fou.
months after seeding, while clover uc
cupics the ground for a whole season
Good cnsilage may be made from COW
pea vines and a cheap supply of nltrogc
nous food be obtained in this way
Aside from the value of the feed 1t
improves the lard much mere rapidl,
than does clover.
The velvet bean is proving a valu
able crop as a soil lmprOver, but as We
little use has been made of it as 6
stock food.
The vetch is most valuable for WIN.
ter pastures. If sown in the fall il
covers the ground by the first of Jan.
uary and will furnish valuable pasture
until late in spring. 1t bears our
heaviest frost without injury. If the
stock are taken off just before seeding
the plants will mature seed in q short
time and reseed the ground freely for
The next season. A very good way is
to SOW vetch with orchard grass and
bermuda. The orchard grass and
bermuda will furnish pasture while
the vetch is dormant.
Japan clover makes it's appearance
in the pasture without seeding, and
perpetuates itself without care. 1t
makes q fair growth on the poorest
soil, and is well liked by all kinds of
stock. On poor soils its growth is flat
and spreading, and is fit only for pas
ture, but where the soil is strong it
grows erect and from one to two tons
OF hay may be made per acre.
There are n number of grasses and
legumes other than those mentioned
above that do well here both for hay
and pasture.
Aside from the wonderful variety of
forage crops the stockman may grow,
he has an abundant supply of cotton.
seed meal and hulls to feed his stock.