St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1911-05-13
A TALK To
DA|RYMEN
Address Of J. H. McLain,
Junior Dairyman,
Of United States Depart
ment of Agriculture,
Delivered to Dairymen at
Vaudeville, La.
J On Recent Establishment of
Creamery There.

In some sections of the South and
especially in sections in the extreme
southern part some have the idea
that dairying can not be profitably
carried on, on account OF the heat,
poor cattle, ETC., but l will like to
say as to natural adaptability that
this section of the country is especial
ly adapted to the dairy industry.
The climate is such that cattle can
run at large almost the entire year.
there being very few days that the
cattle have to be housed on account
of cold or bad weather. The advan-
tages of raising feed that this climate
affords are unexcelled. We can Sc
cure as a second crop large part
of the ration for dairy cows. For
instance. where smaller grains are
grown, such as rye or oats, these
can be followed fifth pea vines Or
soy beans, which will furnish an
abundant supply of excellent hay; in
addition, early varieties of corn can
be planted which will furnish sue
cElent feed in the form of silage.
These feeds which form the basis OF
8 ration for dairy cows are thus
obtained as a second crop, which
means very low cost. In the case
of pea vine and soy beans double
purpose is served in that they furnish
feed for the COWS and also improve
the soil. The pasture grasses and
grains can be SO arranged that there
two 1v fnw
in the year that the cattle will not
get some benefit from them. Ihe
expense of buildings for the housing
Of the cattle Is very shall in this
section. All that is needed is good,
convenient, sanitary place IN Whlch
to milk and sufficient protection from
wind and rain. In the Nortneri
sections this building question is
very important one. The winters
are SO severe that the buildings mus
be made tight in order to make the
cattle comfortable, and in these
buildings the cows are. Kept OF
months in the year. This, you see
incurs a great expense to the NoIth
ern dairymen, which in this sectioI
we can save.
The advantages of dairying arr
many and especially i'll this partlcu
lar section. s.. One of the great need
of the Southern farmer is casi
income to. enable him to go on 4;
cash basis and thus save the Pc
cottages that merchants are oDiige'
tn charge when they let goods ou
on six months or years uile
nairying furnishes this conditlon
where milk, cream, or butter is soid
the money usually come in elthe
weekly or monthly and thus Tn
dairymen can meet his bills as an
other business man. With cash O.
hand we not only save money o.
the goods we buy, but We can secur
hotter labor and control 1t bette
when the cash can be paid Tan
time.4-.~--- a ,
-, The~manure from dairy herd
very great consideration, especld
Iv in this section where more an
more attention is being paid TO Iruct
inu Some of the farmers clalm Ihe
20 tbevacan secure the manure ciea
from their dairy herds that TINS
enough to Justify them to contlnu
tha husiness. This is true, but sine
tho possibilities are so mucn greate
than this why should one De satl
fed with so small a proht! EVE,
Garden SPOT is a testimonial 10 IL
Soct that COW manure builds up ian
r. This system of farming is folloWe
&c II should he, it will reduce 1erti
;yar hills and still make our VINO
terms as productive as our garae'
ara We have a number OF lnstahc'
T., tho Southern States whefe u
nroductiyeness of farms has pee
douhIed in a few years by the u
80 stable manure. 1t is prove
eaot that commercial fertilizers alol
ry;1I not build up land, and II
s,na fact that many dollars Wor
sor+ilizers that we buy are vast
because the land is not III eoiiuiti, .h 81
to get the full beneht from me ,r
tilizer owing to a lack ol s 20 50, ~
matter which holds the moisture q
which in turn dissolVes Tue Pa
food in the fertilizer
~ One of the greatest aoyans"s :
that the dairy industry mas III !
Southern States, If there couiu Us
preater advantage than Duliuins
o,,r soil, is the market coilui.l1 ~
Almost every town and larse GU
ara offering good prices for tne .
quality of dairy products. IN ~, I
Connection, I will say, that nallh
Wholesaling at from 20 to 20 cent
aal1on and is retailing Tor from
20 a. cents. Good butter is prlns
fror, 25 to 40 cents per pouna,
o % per cent cream brings about
avorage of ST per gallon. II
neople in the dairy sections OF
pItd IIn;tad states could obtain s.
nrices % for their products they wo
p eann be rich enough to retire. M
so sban this. there is no danger OF c.
naIition interfering with good pri'
pe'ie pt least not in the near future;
q Southern city some time ago
told that city alone was short Oh
wv ,,ad snnnly 800 gallons OF I