The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-02-03

DEPARTMENT


cal agricultural education. Along these
lines is the matter of stock growing in the
south, and among the kinds of stock now
being grown the hog is receiving his
share of attention
For years our southern farmers have
been in the habit of waiting for the north
TO grow and ship to them their pork, and
the idea has been among many of our
farmers that the north was the only sec
ton which could make hog growing sue
cess But experiments along practical
educational lines conducted in various
sections of the south have demonstrated
that hogs may be even more cheaply
grown in the south than In any other Sec
ton OF our country. But behind this had
to come first the education which would
teach our southern farmers that we had
many forage crops suitable for the soil
of the south which would furnish cheap
feed for hogs, and that by the successful
cultivation of these crops hogs could be
grown at great profit. l wish to take I'D
ana notice few of the many crops
which can be grown over very large part
OF the south and these are to be found in
many sections.
I have spoken SO often of alfalfa as a
forage crop for stock and of its value as
feed, not only for hogs. but for all
other Stock that / repeat only for the
benefit of our new readers This valuable
plant Is just beginning to be recognized
In many parts of our country as yalua-
BILE crop to grow for hogs. and as 1t can
be grown in so many of our southern
states its value is all the more increased.
| lie a Z
the cheapest of all plants on which to
grow hogs.
have just paid visit to a large 1900
acre Texas farm. 400 acres of which Is well
set in alfalfa, and on this 400 acres l found
l75 fine Poland China hogs. all in fine flesh
and in healthy condition. Aside from
about two bushels OF corn fed to them
daily alfalfa is their ration. This crop is
now. on January g. growing green and
| furnishing pasture. not only for these
hogs, but for cattle. sheep, goats, horses
] and mules. | mention this because 1t is
4 only an object lessen of what our readers
/ can do in many sections of our own state
/ of Alabama.
! | have In a former paper shown when
and how to prepare soil for alfalfa as
well as when and how to SOW, that |
will not treat of this part of the subject
here, except to say that there is yet time
to prepare soil and sow a crop of alfalfa.
/ While | should prefer fall sowings. yet if
this has been neglected I would advise
our readers to prepare and sow at leas.
a few acres this coming spring. Look up
back numbers of your Age-Herald. which
you should have on file, and get the in
formation for sowing.
Hogs may be cheaply grown on good
crops of alfalfa by the addition of some
grain, but to finish them off for market
/ they should be taken off the alfalfa and
] fed Of
Then again hogs will do even better by
a change of food and we have other val
liable crops which may also be easily
grown in the south. / will now say few
words about another valuable crop for
hog feed which can be grown over even
a greater range of country than can al
! falfa.
cwarf Essex Rape.
or this / have repeatedly written and
only mention 1t now that all may be re-
minded that If you have neglected to pre-
pare this plant for winter growing the
time is near at hand when it may be
sown for spring pasture. This plant Is
now being successfully grown over
! great portion of the south and can be
grown on any land that will produce cab
bage or turnips. However the most sat-
isfactory results are to be obtained by
sowing on rich soil.
have also just visited Texas farm
where there is large field of fine rape
green and furnishing an abundance of
grazing for hogs cattle, poultry and
sheep oii 'lns an ~ ny 49, -,
ieauy ioi man o', "a a'.u ~ 90
must eh',ieiy oii 'ns ~ %
No" mheh We SO NJ" .ii''e' 20 ~ ~ 10.
from inns Nalu"pie p'""', "'u WI "n"'
niue enor. ~ may pe s,o"n ov .si % 20, 50
range VI ne so"''i' 10 - nv - ne ."a'
we uo no. see i',o 's a. 90 - - ~
ureus VI aV'eS. e'o""e 's
so"'n
spanish Peanuts'
Here is another almost universal crop.
so far as the south is concerned. for 1t
will grow and yield immense crops on all
| the sandy lands of the south, and 1t mas
! been demonstrated by actual experiments
! in Texas that one acre Will produce more
! hog feed than will two acres of the best
crops of corn. Then, too the hogs may
| be made to gather their own feed. Plant
a field of these. let the field be long, but
narrow provide portable fence, which
may be easily moved, fencing off a small
plot at time. according to the number
of hogs to feed. Do not let the hogs feed
too long at the start. Turn them in only
a few hours at time for the first few
days.
The tops are fine for hay and it may be
| good economy to cut the vines and make
! hay of them before turning the hogs in.
| This plan is now also being praeticed in
Texas and is well worth a trial in all
parts of the SOUTH The greatest crop |
ever saw of this peanut was In Alabama,