The Savannah morning news., 1903-09-29
RE-JUvENATE LANDS
CATTLE RAISING SUGGESTED AS A
MEANS OF INCORPORATING
NEEDFUL HUMUS.
IS ENTIRELY PRACTICABLE
AND CAN BE MADE A PAYING M
DUSTRY.

while Worn Out Lands Are Being
Restored to Former Productive
ness-PracticnI Experience Teach
es That Beef Cattle Can BE Raised
in Georgia SuccessfulIy-HerefO
Famed to Prosper Here More Sue
cessfuIIy.
The comment is frequently heard
that the lands in Georgia and adjacent
states are run down." that farms
which were formerly greatly produc-
tive are hardly now found profitable.
There are various causes for this, not
difficult to see. Among these is the
prevailing negro tenant s;etem, with
it's butchery, in the name of tilage,
it's constant depletion of the soil by
the withdrawal of plant food, with
never a return of it in any form.
Even where farming is conducted
under the supervision of the white
man, with faithful work, it cannot be
overlooked that the condition of deple-
ton referred to results from a false
theory and practice is to fertilizng.
The habit of forcing" a given crop
to maturity by the use of commercial
fertilizers, and often without ascer-
tanning whether the elements of the
fertilizer used are adapted to the spe-
ci1c crop, not only does not help the
soil, but does it untold harm. In main
tanning soil fertility, and in restoring
plant food which is annually with
drawn by the growing crop, it is in
dispensable to incorporate the needful
humus, which is impossible by use of
commercial fertilizers alone. The en-
tire discontinuance of commercial fer
tiliZers, however, is not advised. They
have their proper places and it would
be unfortunate if the farmer should
be deprived of them.
A Solution offered.
The industrial department of the
Central of Georgia Railway has sought
to solve the problem of Improvement of
lands by a system of animal fertilizing,
and perhaps supplement this with SUCH
commercial fertilizers as are needful.
The experienced farmer hardly needs
be reminded of the permanent fertiliz-
ing quality of COW manure, and of the
greatly improved mechanical condition
which is impaired to the soil-both of
which are felt for years.
A circular issued by the road to
farmers says that in this crisis it GER
tainly seems the part of prudence to
reduce the cultivated acreage, 70 SUI
the portion so cut off to Bermuda
grass (that great basis of grazing
which analysis has shown contains
more nutrition than Kentucky blue
grass and with an animal period of an
imal grazing twice as long,. stock this
Bermuda range and any adjacent,
woodland with good cattle-for the
profit there is in cattle raising as an
enterprise and to the end of permanent
enrichment of the soil, of making one
acre produce what five now do.
Profit in Cattle Raising.
1t is hardly necessary in this con-
nection to discuss the question of profit
in cattle raising, as a definite PROPOSE
ton. This has long been well estab-
lished. 1t is proper, however, ri to call
attention to the importance of using
the riEht kind of cattle-those from
which the best results are obtainable.
1t has been clearly demonstrated, and
is no longer theory, that where cat
tie of the heavy type (Shorthorn, Here
ford or Angus) are secured with a
view to their adaptability to this sec
ton, they are as hardy as our native
cattle, subsist and thrive on the same
fare, and, what is more to the point,
2-year-old steer will attain twice the
weight, and his beef be worth twice
as much, pound for pound, as a ma
tive steer of the same age.
In undertaking an enterprise of this
kind, it is we'll to have in view two i'm
portant points, and thus avoid some
of the difficulties which were met with
when this industry was in it's expert
mental stage. These are:
To Avoid Difficulties.
First. Secure such cattle as, by their
breeding, are hardy and adapted to TAX
ing range fare, as distinguished from
the "hot house" product. 1t will not
be difficult to get this type of cattle
if care and investigation are used.
Second. 1t is we'll established that
the climatic diseases peculiar to the
South (known under different names
tick, fever, splenic fever, red water,
etc.) are communicated by the common
COW tick to cattle introduced here from
higher ATTITUDES. In case of many nigh
bred cattle which have in the past been
so brought South, a good percentage
of fatality, or else permanent. stunt
ing, has resulted from this experience.
1t is, therefore, important to secure
such stock as have been bred among
ticks, and in climate similar to our
own. BY this experience they become
immune in infancy, and henceforth ac-
climate anywhere without difficulty.
Cattle Thrive.
Several instances. in different sec
tions of the state. have come under
our observation, of cattle selected as
above indicated which are thriving
right along side of native cattle. and
which bear out in actual experience
all that is above stated. AS an illus
tration of the superior quality of the
beef Qn addition to that OF the live
animaD, a butcher recently went with
q Southwest Georgia farmer to his
pasture on a cattle buying mission.
In the pasture were ordinary native
cattle and Herefords, all having had
the same range fare--nothinS more
nor less: in fact they were all twp
ical range fat cattle. An inspection
resulted in an offer of cents FOR The
natives and cents for the Herefords.
The reason given by the butcher was:
1.-The native cattle are in just as good
condition as the Herefords, but in Gaze
of the same amount of live weight
can get more and better beef from the