The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1910-11-15
Dr.. Knapp on the South.

DIR. Knapp's opinion OF the South
may be learned from the following let
ter to Congressman Ransdell, pub
lished a few days ago in the monthly
illustrated magazine Of the Atlantic
Coast Line railway:
you have asked me to give an
opinion on the agricultural possible
ties Of the South. The subject is so
to classify and consider it under about
four heads, as follows:
Il. Corn, hay, pasture and forage
crops.
-. Stock raising.
-. Fibre plants.
Il. Truck farming.
1T has been thougTa till recently
large that it Will be necessary for me
that the South would not raise large
crops Of Indian corn, but a little de-
InOnStratiOn has proven that the soils
and climate are specially adapted for
that and that larger crops
can be raised than in the so-called
corn States. Climate conditions are
much more favorable for the corn
plant, and as a large portion of the
plant is of atmospheric origin, climate
Is of primary consideration.
"All that IS necessary is to prepare
the soil in the best way, and we use
good farm methods, and he South
will develop into one of the best corn
regions Of the United States. We
have produced the past year, under
test, from so to $50 bushels of corn
per acre.
For pasture and hay, the South is
also superior to most of the Northern
States; first, because of the greater
r~alnfall, and secondly because Of more
favorable climatic conditions. The
reason the South has not DEVELOPED in
this line is the farmers have
been 50 engroSsed in other crops that
they have paid but little attention to
hay and pasture lands, and have failed
etao1 etaoin etaoin ia t~aointaoinnn
to use the best methods. Under trial,
the past year, We have been able to
foduc from four to six tons of hay
per acre where the soil was thoroughly
pare and the proper seed used.
"Ihen there is a great variety Of
forage plants, UGH as the velvet bean.
the coWpea soy beans, Japan ribbon
cane, etc, that grow with amazino
vigor in the Southern States. and arc
eSceedlngly nutritious, SO that there
can De an abundant supply Of forage
Aoi STOCK all seasons Of the year.
"Srperlatively Adapted,
IN three respect a large portion
u lne south IS s~uperlatively adaDted
70 stock raising. First. becausa or
the forage that can he nro-
N"' 40 oldleu ABOVE, and So.0Odlv
because Of the temperature. which -
SO mia that it does not tax he v~ita1itu
y TIE ANIMAL and it reduces the
AMOUNT OF food necessary to sustain
NE ana Vlgor. Thirdly as comnarod
with the extreme North there is =
great reduction in the expenses of pro
WINS shelter in the winter, all Of
~nich means an addition to the yicor
~ ~ animal and its immunity from
QiS0dSe, such as llharo1l nc;o a. W
rs longer period of pasture makes il
more economical. The comparative.
~ 10Y" price of lumber for building
pu. ppses IS another important item.
These facts are esneciauv a,oa
slzeo IN case Of pork production. HOGS
cdh De pastured the year round on >
earlety OF pasture forage that will
nearly mature them for market With
out the addition of corn. Tndo" 49,
una adjustment Of agriculture in the
oTlted states, l believe that a laroa
pofuon Of the South will be fonnd