The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1911-11-17
cRanoRAss HAY a VERY PROFIT
ABLE CROP
Bradford County Farmers Gather
Large crops-it IL . Splendid
Fodder

eonnty. besides being ideal for straw
berries. - also the real soil for the
erabgrasa. CrabErass { Panicum San
gulnaleD grows scatteringly over the
greater part Of Florida, but Il Is only
where the soil IA like ours that IL
grows thickly In the fields 10 the ex-
elusion Of nearly all other kinds OF
weeds II grows Wild in the woods,
bat after the ground has been culti-
waited for a couple Of years IL first
gets a good start. for the other wild
grasses and herbs. which can grow
only IN sour ground, have then been
eliminated The grass does not root
deep. nor has II any runners, and is,
therefore. easy to subdue with the
pillow and cultivatOr. But when the
crops are laid by II takes a start and
produces seed for the next year. To
exterminate Il except by the introduc-
ton Of other weeds, is impossible, and
this trait OF the grass is Of great val
ne 20 the farmer.
Until quite lately very few farmers
have utilized the crabgrass for hay.
For forage to mix with the grain they
feed 90 their work animals they have
depended on corn fodder" and their
cattle have been turned into the fields
90 eat the grass. But around the
towns the grass has been cut for hay
with great profit This fall a very
large quantity of hay has been cut.
Next seasons cut will be much heav-
Ter. for many of our farmers think of
raising horses and mules, which
should be very profitable considering
the high price of these animals and
the unlimited quantity of hay that
can be had By every farmer for the
trouble Of harvesting. -.
There has been and Is yet a preju-
dice against crabgrass hay, many be-
lieving that its nutritious value Is
low compared with that Of timothy.
clover and alfalfa hay. This belief
has. no doubt. originated from the
fact that after work animals have
been turned out 10 grass they per-
splre freely. But when the animals
are thus allowed 20 choose they only
nlbhle OF the tops which contain only
water. When the grass Is cut. stalks
and an. and fed 90 them IN the sta
bie. che green grass proves 20 be very
nutritious Large stock owners who
have glven this hay a thorough trial
prefer n 90 other hay. Besides being
mnirltlons h Is freer from dust and in
dineaflhle matter than the shipped
hay
~ a Hull. q well known grower
nnd ahlpper o. strawberries and veg
sfabios. aud proprietor OF Hull's De-
Faftmnut store. ia well equipped for
hay.maklng. and cuts an the hay from
49, osn iand. and on shares for 9th
So He has harvested this season
lrom hia oWn lands and received on
ahafea ever 1000 bales. each bale
welshlnK about 20 pounds. The crab
nEaes u.s. lon account Of being slight
A. miAe1 Nith eeedsl sells az $50 a
ann. whlle shipped has demands over
80 a tan. Mr Hull considers the
rEiee satisfactory. and he can readily
nef az 49, can spare. ,. w. Andrews
a eoa. pruprletors % the bis livery
go saIe STABLE 10 sfarke. have given
- 49, a fhoFaaKh trial and are well
smfla8ed wlfh b. M uull keeps six
hevaes aud nluies which Do hard work
So fha gime Scr many years he has
m8 enlF eFahwraas hay Tor forage
go 80 snimsis are strong. fat and
haaNaF tAsi year. after feeding his
aAoeA 49, IA saoash has 20 SPARE ID
man 6sa Worah VI A. Newman
So ere a ~ neanett are also heav
- a 60 haylns ausiness
A. 81 lnsfance 81 profitable yield 81
49, Is mas be stated that from one
nefe aN FeaF MF Huu cut tl0C
wmeh eg has
Nta haf 49, eafheFed Il from ths
NHtt4 MNefN afhEF cFupa have beer
NFnMn eHt ate lu ihe year when ths
msam h shaFf and an rough. rldgee
hana ahnfe mueh 81 o. Is wasted. ye
tAe ffel8 81 ffum one 90 two tons q
tNe arfe 81 eafh eaitlns Were ~
hna esaerianT prepared foF The gras'
49, FifM aoaii b. much heavisr
Naokaaif fhFee ions 20 the hrst cat
NlaN. fau 1eus Gov the second and one
tnn fag fhe thiFd Wanting Pea,
hFoaAeam aat leiting the vines and
a. Essss MFua - toEether still fuT
49, laeFeaaes the Weld. aud crab
Mmm ana peaxlne hay h pronounced
~ eumpeteni iaases 90 be superior
- - I FfmufhY
ma 80 PEARS hay maklng Nill an
aamhie4is - ona 81 the bis Industries
~ cas- aae8Aan -~e1aFke telegraph.