Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-09-05
MERITS OF BERMUDA AND BLUE
GRASS PASTURES

GRASS PASTURES
A correspondent writes: What are
the relative values of bermuda grass
and blue grass for pasture? What is
the analysis of Bermuda grass hay?
ton Of Kentucky blue grass is sup
posed to contain approximately "A
pounds of digestible protein, 4O.2 pounds
of digestible carbo-h ydrates and z
pound of digestible fat. A ton of Ber-
mu~a grass contains approximately ga
pounds of Ulgestible protein, 44.9 pounds
of digestible carbohydrates and 1.6
pounds of digestible fat. Many years
experience with Bermuda grass indi-
Gates that it has greater carrying ca
pacity than blue grass, par -icularly our
ing the warm hot mon MS of the sum-
mer months. 1t comes on quite early
In the season and may be pastured until
the first of November in the southeast
ern states. Bermuda grass must be
heavily grazed in order to keep 1t short
and fairly succulent and readily eaten
by live stock. If allowed to grow up
it becomes rank and tough and is not
readily eaten. OF course, Bermuda
grass and blue grass are quite different,
the latter being adapted for growth
on limestone land and under climatic
conditions quite different from those
"hCiC DOIuluud gives It's best results.
One need not hesitate to engage in
the live stock industry where he can
have first-class Bermuda pasture. The
fact of the matter Is. Bermuda grass
is not known or appreciated as 1t should
be, and II is to be hoped that the area
devoted to it in the South and in all
sections of the country TO which It is
well adapted for cultivation will be rap
Idly extended. for 1t means the develop
ment of the live stock industry in com
munities where this interest has been
seriously neglected. and consequently
the land allowed to wash away and the
enrichment of the soil seriously re-
tarded.
WHICH BREED OF HOGS FOR
BREEDIN2
L. G. r., Winder Ca, writes: I have
a five-acre hog PASTURE about three acres
OF II is In well sodded Bermuda grass
and the remainder in running water.
briars and pine timber What breed Of
hog would you advise me to purchase?
want a good grazing hog. am
anxious to raise some alfalfa. Have
sowed twice in the fall and did not get
stand. Would you advise my trying
1t now? Where. can 1 get inoculated
seed?
There is no doubt but that hog raising
by means of pasture and grazing crops
can be made a profitable Industry in
Georgia, for 1t has been clearly demon
strated that hogs so raised can be made
to produce pound OF gain at a cost
Of rs to cents pound whereas when
fed on corn will vary anywhere from
to is cents. Our state is not producing
a sufficient amount of corn as vet to
make hog raising on grain alone a profita-
BILE undertaking at prices which that con-
centrate now commands. Therefore at
teption should be given to the establish
ment of grazing lots. Bermuda sod
will prove helpful and the hogs will
gather considerable food therefrom. but
It should be associated with other areas
on which a variety of crops may be
grown so that a succession Of food NAV
be made available for the hogs through
out the entire season. The lots might
properly be seeded to alfalfa. winter
vetch and oats. to cowpeas, soy beans.
peanuts and artichckes. If these crops
are put I'm proper rotation the land can
be improved and satisfactory success
sion OF crops provided the year through
There is no one best breed of hog but
some are adapted better for grazing pur
poses than others, and undoubtedly one
OF the best grazing breeds adapted to the