The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-07-11

Some provision should be made on
every farm for crops to be utilized for
/ soiling during the summer season. In
the South Central States fall droughts
have become quite frequent, says
Prof. Soule in an exchange. The pas
lures dry up. and there is a scarcity of
food suitable for all classes of stock
/ until the fall rains come on. As a re-
suit of these short supplies of food
the stock is allowed to get in bad con-
/ dition or the pastures are graZed too
closely. Either one Of these evils is
misfortune, for stock allowed to be-
come thin and poor in the early au-
tumn is not in good condition to pass
through the rigors of a severe winter,
and animals that are once allowed to
become stunted never get over the eff
fects. Through a failure to provide
for the drought by sowing suitable
S0iling crops early in the season the
farmer is frequently forced to COM
mence feeding the hay, fodder and
other crops that should be saved for
winter feeding and though he may
keep his stock in good condition for
the present, they get in very bad con-
dtiOn before grass comes in the spring.
AS a result, he is forced 10 turn them
on the pastures before the grass has
made sufficient growth to be really
nouushng, and besides that, they
tramp over the ground when it is wet,
and destroy what would otherwise have
been a permanent sod. yielding much
valuable grazing or satisfactory crops
Of hay for several seasons.
While early spring erazng is unfor-
tunate, the pastures and meadows
probably suffer more from the treat
ment to which they are subjected dur
ing the late summer and early fall. At
n If 1a shn h.
given a complete rest, for the drought
is then generally at it's hight, which,
coupled with close grazing, is almost
certain to effect their permanent de-
struction If these same meadows
could be given rest at this season OF
the year, they would furnish a good
deal of valuable grazing through the
late fall and winter; grazing more
valuable than is obtained from them
during the summer time and without
the injury incident to cropping so
closely as to expose the crowns of the
roots during the drought period.
One might suppose that it was diff
ficult matter to supply soiling crops in
sufficient variety to permit of a prac-
tice so desirable. but such is not the
case. The soiling crop is not under
stood or valued in the South as it
should be, yet no finer array of useful
crops can be grown anywhere than
are available on the Southern farm.
Sorghum is a hardy AID useful plant
for soiling purposes and is compare
lively immune to dry weather. few
acres that are often permitted to lie
out all summer, or at best are only
half cultivated, if put in a mixture of
sorghum and peas sown broadcast, will
| furnish a great deal of the choicest
green food when the meadows are prac-
tically useless, so far as the mainte-
nance of live stock is concerned. Sor-
ghum may also be grown in drills and
cut when headed out, for green feed.
The use of immature soiling crops is
to be condemned, as they are much
more valuable for food when they APP
proach maturity. Corn may be utilized
earlier in the season, with soy beans
for the late fall
All these crops should be grown as
conveniently to the pasture grounds as
possible. AS they come into condition
for use they may be cut by hand or
with whatever suitable implement is
! convenient, and thrown over the fence
into the pasture field. selecting a fresh
piece Of ground each day. If the green
feed is not supplied too lavishly the
cattle will eat it up surprisingly clean
in a short time BY scattering the
feed over the ground the animals will
! not trap and destroy one section of
the neld, ana DeSlueS JndI, the uTOp-
pings are uniformly distributed over it,
which is an advantage. 1t will take
but a short time for a man to cut
and convey to the feeding ground sutfi-
cient green feed to properly nourish
! the stock contained on the average
! farm. OF course. the field should be
arranged so the green feed can be sup
| piled with the least labor A little
| forethought on the part of the farmer
will enable this to be successfully ac-
complished. The few acres required to
grow soiling crops are available on
| every farm where a suitable rotation
! is practiced, and they will permit of
| the stock being fed uniformly on foods
adapted to their needs. This will in
sure their being kept in the best con-
! d;tion at all seasons of the year. and
| will increase the profits of the owner