St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1915-03-13
,ut the South makes it possible to

out the South makes 1t possible to
own quite extensive farms for the
production of both forage crops and
pastures with a comparatively small
investment of capital. Cheap lands,
combined with cheap cows for foun-
dation stock, enables one to start
in the cattle business In that section
with an outlay of far less capital
than in most other portions of the
country.
Water and shade in abundance
are found throughout the South, and
the seasons are usually mild that ex-
pensive barns are not needed for cat
tie as in the North. The only shelf
er needed for beef cattle in the
South are open sheds facing the
south under which young cattle may
take shelter from the cold rains or
wind. The mature beef cattle need
no other protection than that afford
ed by trees, hedges, underground OF
switch cane or brush, and other nat
ural shelter.
Forage Crops and Feeds.
The amount of roughages grown
in the South is small compared with
that produced by some of the States
TO the Middle West. Still there is
no section of the country that will
grow such a variety of leguminous
hays and other forage crops as the
South. Cowpeas, soy beans and
crimson clover will grow luxuriantly
in any of the southern states, while
alfalfa, melilotus and velvet beans
grow in various sections.
The corn-growing tests which have
bee nconducted in every southern
state during the last few years show
that corn can be produced in large
amounts per acre and as cheap as in
other. states. The wide variation OF
time during which it may be planted,
combined with its luxuriant growth
in southern ATTITUDES, make it ex-
ceedingly valuable as silage crop.
A yield of 10 to II tons Of silage
per acre is not all uncommon on the
good lands, while the average yield
is about tons.
In addition to the various feeds
which can be grown upon the farms
for the cattle, there is one which is
produced as by-product of the cot
ton industry which is more valuable
than any other known cattle feed
cottonseed meal. With the enor-
nous output of the commodity at
home the list of feeds necessary to
produce good beef cattle is complete.
Tick Eradication.
The Federal Government realized
the importance of the southern states
as fild for producing cattle, and as
result began investigations in
breeding and feeding cattle in the
South in 1904, and in 1906 began a
systematic fight on the cattle tick,
which killed SO many cattle that were
brought into the South years ago.
The methods of eradication used
were rotation Of pastures and the
dipping or spraying of the animals
with emulsions Of crude oil and kero-
sene, or with an arsenical solution.
At the beginning Of this work there
were 741,515 square miles of infect
ed territory. From that time until
November l., 1913, 198,802 square
miles Of land have been actually
freed Of the tick, and at the present
time the work Is being carried on
in every southern State. The great
Importance Of this work to the beef
industry can hardly be estimated
without taking into consideration the
increased prices southern cattle will
bring when they can be shipped
above quarantine line for feeding and
breeding purposes. as we'll as the
facts thta cattle in a free area"
will grow much faster, the loss from
Texas fever will be eliminated and
the farmer can readily bring in good
breeding stock without danger Of
loss.
I The question now arises: II the
South intensifies itself to beef pro-
duction, where are the markets?
The question answers itself. Let the
South produce beef and the markets
will rise everywhere, the railroads
will even do their utmost to facili-
tate transportation, as it will even be
to themselves, there
lore this question will be solved i'm
upon the advancement OF
this industry.
The farmers of the whole South
will eventually realize two impor-
tant facts: "a That more livestock
should be kept on every southern
farm: and, (2) If this stock is beef
cattle each Of them should be finish
I'd for the market before selling in
order to secure the greatest profits.
Whether these animals should be fat
.ened during the summer or the !
winter will depend largely upon local
One of the most i'm
,ortant factors to consider when de-
,ating whether to feed cattle during |
he summer or winter is the need of
mmdiate application Of manure to
he cultivated lands. II the fields |
ire poor and manure is needed upon
hem at once, it may pay to finish
,attle during the winter, for cattle
which are fed during the summer
trop the manure over the pasture
ands and little is saved to haul to
he cultivated fields. The manure on
he pasture will stimulate the growth
Il grasses, however, and increase the
carrying capacity" Of the pasture,
md II the pasture is put in cultiva-
will be apparent.
The greatest need Of the southern
oil is barnyard manure, the app1ica-
ions of which always Increase the
fields Of the subsequent crops, re-
ardless of the type Of the soils to
,hich it is applied. Cotton RESPONDS