The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-12-13
Rice Lands for Hay Making.

MT w. w. Long, head Of the United
states farm demonstration work in
south Carolina and directly in charge
or the demonstration work OF
Clemson College, is satisfied that the
tidal section Of the South must be de-.
pended upon for beef cattle. The
fiat lands along streams, he thinks
are ideal for hay making and graz
ing' and he informs the Columbia
state that he has been devoting con-
siderable time investigating abandon
ed rice lands around Charleston with
a view to their utilization ir cattle
raising. Their adaptability for pro-
ducing hay and forage crops. he is
satisfied. makes them capable Of tax
ing care Of thousands OF cattle of q
high grade. Referring to his investi-
cation of the rice lands, Mr.. Long
says:
i was particularly interested in
seeing If we could find some pastur.
grass or forage crop that can bo
grown there. for with the price o.
meats of all kinds so exceedingly
costly the growing Of livestock, espe-
cially hogs and beef cattle, it seems
to me, would be profitable when the
TICK Is eradicated. feel that it Is
reflection on those OF us engaged in
agricultural development not to be
able to find some crop that can be
grown successfully on these lands that
are as rich as the valley of the Nile.
After looking the lands over 4
nave an idea that the finest pasture
IN the world can be made there with
bermuda grass, and to that end am
going to recommend to DR.. w. M.
Riggs and the director OF the experi
ment station at Clemson College t.
undertake an experiment in the MAX
Ing OF pasture and the growing o..
forage crops on what is known as the
old Lowndes plantation near Green
Pond. now owned by DR.. Mullally."
Mr.. Long seems to have been on
the right track, for q Colleton count,
farmer already had demonstrated to
verify what was the experts theor,
on the subject. He found a farmer
near Ritter. in Colleton county. who
is utilizing his abandoned rice fields
or developing tho livestock industry
doing the very thing which tn,
.aim demonstrator had a firm con-
victiCn could be done. The Colleton
.armer is making a speciality Of rails
ing calves for veal and is annually
shipping 400 which bring from $12 to
$14 head. Thus, his calf money
alone foots up between $1,000 and
$4,000 year. not to mention the in
creased value Of his herd. the incalcu-
liable fertilizer value and the milk
and butter that are by-products Of the
industry. He has a number of Here
ford and Short-horn bulls that he
breeds with native cows and tho quail
ity Of the calves may be judged when
1t Is stated that he gets S12 to s14
each for calves only two months old
The Colleton farmers cows are pas
tured on rice fields and uplands that
are free Of ticks, and the remarkable
i IF 10 haf 20
month, summer or winter. His only
cost is for keeping up the fences and
the paying Of man to look after the
cattle. He also farms on large
scale and has other extensive agri-
cultural interests. but he remark
ed to Mr. Long. mo branch of my
am doing in livestock"
The farm demonstrators was firmly
convinced and declares that he shall
make every effort towards forward
ing the idea Of raising beef cattle ir
the low country. The lands in Col
Teton county are similar in every re
spect to thousands Of acres of land ir
eastern North Carolina, and we rot
only have abandoned rice lands
around Wilmington but swamp land:
and savannahs that will not only pro.
duce Bermuda grass but clover and
other forage crops Even the up
lands In eastern North Carolina fur
nlsh cover crops the year round fol
grazing. and there arc people wht
have often assured us that they hav,
green pasturage every day in th'
~ nj nm Stor