Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1902-04-16
FORAGE CROPS.
interesting Discussion-Modes OF Preserving
and Enriching Our Lands.
rGreenville Daily News.1


nesday from 1 to 3 p. m. AT that
time, Mr.. w. j. Spillman, who is
connected with the U. S. Depart
ment of Agriculture as agrostolo-
gist, gave an interesting lecture on
the subject of forage crops. 1t was
hoped that larger number of our
farmers would have been present,
but circumstances were not entirely
favorable for the realization of that
hope. At one time no place seemed
available for holding the meeting, as
Court was in session and the Court
House was therefore occupied. BY
the courtesy of Judge Gage, how
ever, the hours of the Court were 80
arranged that the meeting could be
held at th. time mentioned.
M. l.. Donaldson acted as chair
man of the meeting, at which was
present fairly good number of
persons, and the lectures of Mr.. Spill
man and Prof. Newman were heard
with pleasure and interest.
DR.. Spillman was first introduced
and spoke upon the subject of for
age crops.
In no part Of the United States,
said he, can there be grown greater
variety, better quality and greater
quantity of forage than Can 5o raised
in this section. Under the present
conditions of farming here, it is
necessary for us to learn to grow
more grass and to raise more live
stock. 1t is pleasing TO note that
there is growing interest in this
matter. The remedy against the
evil of excessive cotton growing is
to increase grass growing and live
stock raising. 1t will, however, be
fatal mistake to rush headlong into
such course, as inexperience will
surely entail loss and disappointment,
but we should seriously and studi-
ously learn the needed steps towards
a successful change. Clemson Col
lege is doing valuable work in this
direction, and farmers should send
for and study it's various bulletins,
which can be obtained on application
by any one. Other valuable litera-
ture on this subject can be obtained
froEa the Government Department Of
Agriculture. Send for the monthly
list of literature published by the
department about everything con-
nected with this subject. Some of
these publications are free such as
are not may be obtained free from
your Congressman until his quota of
them is exhausted after that they
can be gotten at small cost from
the department. Address the Di-
vision of Publication of the depart
ment for any desired information.
Study and apply these aids intelli-
gently and in fifteen years you will
grow twice as much as now on the
same acreage and not necessarily
use any commercial fertilizers ex-
cept for even greater results. To
fertilize for fields with the product
of the fields is the only possible kind
of farming for profit anywhere. To
divide your fields, rotate your crops,
raise more stock, feed all your stock
from the product of tho land and
give the land the manure from the
stock is the only way to build up
your country. Slowly and seriously
increase your live stock and grass
raising, and so enrich yol soil and
lessen the use of comm erclal fertili-
zers. BY such a process the speaker
had secured as much as 81 bushels
Of wheat to the acre in Washington
State, using ~ tons of barnyard
manure to the acre.
Some of the best crops for forage
and fertilizing were. then mentioned.
The COW pea is the best legume that
can be grown here. 1t requires no
nitrogen, for it draws that from the
air. There is no success anywhere
without leguminous crops; by their
use the yield of wheat can be raised
from six to thirty bushels per acre.
Another valuable forage plant is the
soy, or sofa bean, of which there are
many varieties. This is eaiser to
handle than the COW pea it pro-
duces more hay and more seed. The
velvet bean is another valuable plant
under this head. 1t will not mature
here at all, but the seed car Q got
ten very cheaply from Florida. The
velvet bean is hard to beat, as a
mulch it covers everything around,
the vines running out for 80 or 40
feet in every direction. Put it on
poor ground and when it is about
two feet high put cattle on it, and
the fertility of the land will be
greatly increased. Planted in or
chards and turned under when high