Tensas gazette., 1917-03-02

Statistics shsw that only about II
per cent VI tAs lands In Louisiana are
In cultivation; the remaining 81 per
cent includes abandoned farm lands,
timber lands. the cut-over piAe belt
4 considerable area Of swamp land
along the rivers, and . large strip OF
marsh land along the coast.
Even tn the better cultivated sec.
tions there Is always an abundance Of
land which II not cultivated every
year, and when these lie in the al.u.
vial plains or smaller river valleys
they are almost invariably clothed in
a wonderful sod of Bermuda graE3
and white clover, with smaller tracts
OF lcspedeZa, Johnson grass and man!
other useful forage crops intimately
mixed with liberal growth OF weeds,
briars and underbrush. 1t is also ap-
parent to anyone that from early
spring to late fall the great bulk of
this pasturage goes almost entirely 10
waste because Of the lack Of sufficien:
cattle or other animals to Craze it of
in way to return profit to the own
er. The cut-over pine lands and hill
sections Of the state are generally COW
cred with a natural growth of the
sedge grasses, some Of the wild le.
sumes and a varying amount Of un-
derbrush. which increases as one goes
toward the northern part of the state.
II would be almost impossible to esti-
mate the amount OF natural wealth
which is wasted in not properly util.
IEing these spontaneous srowths for
live stock production, as there is un.
enough Of 1t to maintain
many hundreds Of thousands Of cattle
and sheep II properly used.
While no accurate data II available !
hat would show the carrying capacity
u all classes Of pasturase. it 10 Ger
tain that the better pastures in the
Auuvial section Of the state have q
carrying capacity far in excess OF the !
ordinary estimates Of average land in |
Southern states. One pasture of 200 |
lores, consisting Of heavy black land |
'od with Bermuda and white clover !
las carried nearly two head of cattle |
o the acre for nine or ten months |
Il the years 1915 and 1916. The only |
'astures which one sees grazed down
o where they are really in the best
ondition are the small plats about
arms and premises where the mules
nd family milk cows have free access
0 comparatively small areas.
The carrying capacity Of the cut
'ver pine and hill lands are, of
curse. not nearly 30 great. 1t is
erhaps safe to say, however, that the
oorest of our pine hills and fats will
AIRY one mature animal for every five
cres without improvement, though it
not recommended that they be used
q this way, as all of them can be
realty improved for pasture purposes
y . small expenditure for seeding
nth lespedeza. white and burr clover,
and paspalum grasses. It IL
ute probable that for at least q gen.
ration to come these pine lands are
DING to be more useful for stock rails
q on an extensive basis than for
ny other purpose, and when they
ave served their purpose in this d.
ection they will be more productive
hen cut up into small farms, as they
o doubt will be in due course of
-.
10 lsok It the question more from
v standpoint Of the individual farm.
casual survey win convince anyone
~ the average farmer of Louisiana
wns or controls much more land than
utilizes for any practical purposes !
NJ after year. These waste lands,
speaking, could be made to
" part Of the expenses of the farm I
they were properly fenced and con-
'Ftsd into pasturage for the grazing i,
live stock.-G. E. Nesom, Live Stock
xtension Service, Louisiana State