The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1902-12-02
Cotton as a Forage Plant.

On reading the caption of this article
some may perhaps expect an article dis
cussing the eXpediency of planting cot
ton as forage crop. Not SO, however
but only a few remarks in regard TO the
use that may be made of the belated, or
second growth, that seems to be more
luXuriant than for several years. In the
drought sections of Georgia and
other States the cotton plants, at this
writing, are full of blooms and green
foliage, the result of the seasonable
weather OF September and October. |
have received several letters asking for
my opinion as to the proper disposition
to make of this unWonted late growth.
Several inQuirers wished TO know if it
were not advisable to at once plOw un-
der the entire stalks. under the appre-
hension that the land would be injured
by this "sapping. To these l nave re-
piled that there is no danger of injury
to the land as a result Of this unusual
growth On the contrary, the effect
would be actually beneficial Whatever
may be taken from the soil by the plants
must necessarily be returned to the soil
whenever the plants shall be beaten
down and plowed under as usual. More
ovgr, in making this growth, the plants
draw largely on the atmosphere; in fact
more largely than on the soil. Hence
when the plants are plOwcd under the
soil will be richer by the total amount
of plant food elements they have taken
from the air. A soil is never injured by
growing a crop, whether Of grass, cot
ton, corn, oats or other plants-provided
the crop be returned to the soil. In
other words, the mere growing of the
plants does not injurc, provided the
plants be returned to the soil. AS a mat
ter Of fact, this is natures method OF
building up and increasing the produc-
tivencss of the soil Wild plants Of
many kinds, briars, bushes, grasses,
lcgumes, broom sadgc etc, spring up
spontaneously, grow, mature and die;
thus returning to the soil what they took
from it and good deal more that they
took from the air This process going
on from year to year and generation to
generation, constantly improves the
character and productiveness of the soil.
When the land is cleared OF its forest
growth and with it thc wild plants of
various kinds, and is planted in cult
crops is removed from the soil, the pro
cess Of deterora tion takes the place of
the natural process OF amclioration and
Improvement. Here is where the skill
Of the intelligent farmer finds play, in
the endeaVor to reap the valuable pro-
ducts of his cultivated crops from the
soil and at the same time restore to the
soil in the form Of manure and waste
al removed
crops
SO, then, the growing of any crop or
plant whatever never, of itself, hurts the
soil If the crop he returned to tho soil
the latter Will certainly be benefited.
| This returning to the soil may be in the
form of manure from the animals con-
suming the crop, or by turning under the
crop as it stands in the field, or by per
mitting the crop to fall to the ground as
it does in the natural way.
But to return to the forage value OF
the late growth of the cotton plants.
Chemical analysis shows that the cotton
plant especially the leaves and stems,
is quite a nutritious food for animals.
Analysis made at various stages Of the
growth OF the plant show that the plant
| contains more nutTiment when in the
| towering stage than either before or af-
ter that stage. Cattle and horses, how
ever, are good judges Of food and by
! their verdict it is pretty safe to abide.
! Every farmer knows ,lat horses and
! cattle are ford of the growing cotton
| plants.
AT the Geo. sia Experiment Station we
! have cut the upper portions Of the plants
\ from several acres and cured them just
as pea vines or other forage plants arc
! cured Cattle eat the same gTecdily and
1 with eVidsnt relish, and good results III
/ milk and butter have followed. OF
! course the old and tough main stems OF
! the plants are rejected, but all of the
! later grown stem and branches, especial
! ly the leaves. arc eaten clean
/ To cne inquirer l wrote advising that
4 cattle be turned into the Gotten field,
i and be permitted to gather for them-
4 selves. Where convenient this is the bet
/ ter way to utilize this unusual food. BY
this plan the labor OF gathering Will be
saved and to a large extent the labor OF
! handling and returning the manure.
r. J. REDDING.