The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1908-11-19

One Acre Of Cowpeas Worth Two OF
Corn, and Ons II soy Beans Ihr~c
of Corn for Making BEEF.

Nlfh FFOA~ 8AhAEgs AAs SA~@s
and other writer's so forcsfully I'M
pressing upon the farmers OF the
South the need Of keeping and feed
ing more and better cattle the CUES
ton as TO how these cattle are TO be
fed most economically becomes one
OF growing interest and importance
Two many folks have concluded
that q beef animal must be fed on
corn. corn. nothing but corn" and
have proceeded TO feed the few they
have in this way. AS result their
profits have been very much smaller
than they should have been. IL has
been demonstrated beyond question
that fattening animals win put on
more flesh and make meat OF bet
ter quality when fed on a ration
rich in protein than when fed on
highly carbonaceous ration, such as
corn Is.
The Double Profit i'm Leguminous
Crops.
The farmer who uses leguminous
crops extensively gets a double proht
above the one obtained by the ex-
elusive corn feeder. He get, in the
first place, a larger profit from his
feeding operations; and he gets, in
the second place, increased fertility
OF his soil.
Some Tennessee Experiments.
The Tennessee Experiment Station
has issued a bulletin giving the re-
suits of a two years feeding test
with comparative acres of ID corn,
(2) soy beans, and 90 cowpeas.
The results have been surprising to
all Indeed. Prof. Morgan, who made
the tests, said that the results the
first year were SO unexpected that
he would not publish them until he
had confirmed them by another trial
An acre of corn, one of soy beans,
and one of cowpeas were planted
side by side, and given similar treat
ment in every respect until they
matured. The corn was cut up, the
ears husked off, and the fodder run
through an ensliage cutter. The
peas and beans were threshed and
the straw saved. All of the grains
were ground, and the product of
each acre was fed to two steers, the
six selected for the three acres being
as nearly uniform as could be OBJ
tanned.
The Superiority of the Soy Bean.
The first year the acre of corn
produced 2,450 pounds corn and cob
Of
and 1912 pounds OF stover. This
! fed The two steers 54 days and pro-
duced a gain Of 129 pounds. The
second year the corn acre yielded
! 2,455 pounds of corn and cob meal
and 1,632 pounds of slower. which
again fed the two steers 81 days
and produced a gain of 203 pounds.
The acre of soy beans the first
year yielded 1888 pounds of grain
and 3,585 pounds of straw. This
! lasted the two steers 80 days and
made gain on them Of 406 pounds
The next year the soy bean acre pro-
duced 1854 pounds of seed and
$3.50 pounds of straw. Again this
fed the steers 80 days and gave a
gain Of $50 pounds.
| Th- cowpeas yielded the first year
on their acre ISL pounds of seed
and 2,404 pounds Of straw This fed
two steers 54 days, the same time as
the acre of corn, but produced 2S9
pounds of beef. The second year
the acre of peas gave ISL pounds OF
grain and 2,200 pounds Of straw
This was fed to two steers in 81
days and made on them a gain of 327
pounds. The greater gains the last
year on all the cattle were believed
to be due to their superior quality.
All the steers each year had about
20 pounds of silage each per day, bu
no other food except that produced
by the experimental acres. Only the
roughage eaten was counted in above
results, much of the corn slower an(
very little of the pea and bean straw
being wasted.
To put the matter in even more
striking shape, let US state the re
suits in tabular form:
=. Cd An acre of corn made
First year ....... 1923 pounds beef
Second year ...... 203 pounds beef
Average ........ 161 pounds.
(2) An acre of soy beans made
First year ........ 460 pounds bee!
!, Second year ...... $40 pounds beef
|