The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1914-03-17

In the diversifcation Of agriculture
lies the salvation Of the Southern
farmer, says the Louisville Home and
Farm. This is the fact that is con
stantly forcing itself upon the atten~
ton OF AN observers and of all con
cerned in the general prosperity OF
agriculture in the South.
Home and Farm has a direct rela-
ton to this interest. 1t exists because
il aims to promote those influences
that make farming pay" throughout
the Southern States.
The South is the home of the cot
ton plant. The Southern people un-
derstand cotton farming better than
they understand any other farming:
but to rest alone upon one crop Is
prccarious. Moreover, there are GER
tain sections of the South where one
can do better than raise cotton, and
even the cotton planters in many sec
tons can reduce the cost Of cotton by
Investigation of their crops, by Civ
ing attention to fruit and early Vege-
tables. to the poultry yard and all
poultry products, to the Gairy and all
dairy products. and TO livestock in all
Of it's relations.
Prof. William Hislop, of the Ohio
College Of Agriculture. mas had some
thing to say of late concerning beef
production. which has a direct appli-
cation to southern conditions.
Prof. HiSlop says that more recent
history Of beef production shows that
grain rather than rouGhaSe has been
regarded US the primary component OF
the ration for the growing of beef cat
tie intended for the block. With the
present high and values and corn
prices. he says, the problem formu-
lates itself thus: How can beef be pro
duced on lands and feeds that car
not be used for ANYTHING else?
This means, says he, the more
thorough utilization Of the available
pasture lands and that ~roughage mus
oCcup n more prominent part o.
growing and fattening rations.
Already, says the professor, bee
breeding herds are shifting from tn
grain sections to the grass sections
where lane is cheap. SO that ultimate
ly ~beef-making with low-priced feed
on cheap land will be the order of tn
day.
This statement we TO tn
consideration of those Southern farm
ers who. on cheap lands, car rails
grass, Southern copweaS anG othe
products fit for the silo.
The South has cheap lands. and
in the South are cheaper than any
where else, if you take ransportatio
into consideration.
Moreover. the climate of the Sout
is better for cattle raising than tn
climate i'm other sections. Stock doe
not need the same attention. does nc
imperatively require the same car.
and does not suffer from great biz
cards or from storms. against whic
no foresight can protect the farmer.
Continuing his observations o
changing conditions. Prof. Hisiop say
that one striking lesson brought hon
to every student OF beef production
that Grain-fed beef has its limit;
lions. beyond which the masters
the art have failed to make u profit
Another lesson is that the right u.
OF sliced r~ouGhagc. grown on CheG
land. is the greatest single power tn
the feeders can employ. and that. il
d~iciousiy applied. il is beginning
yield great success in beef maxim
mines Of wealth. and they require b
careful utilization and creative abili
to put the supply Of beef again on
par with the demand
That is a>long look forward y,
may, in 1914. make up the shortage
orr Of 1918. the shortage In colt,
or wheat: but You cannot. in one
two or three years, make up t
shortage in cattle. You ave got
begin all over again. You have e
to- begin at the bottom.
This requires, as II gentlem
f~om Ohio observe. creative abilit.
which is the rarest form OF ability.
requires "A sufficient knowle dge to av
yourself OF your local adva ntaEe. Y
must know what your " farm c