The Natchitoches enterprise. (Natchitoches, La.) 1888-1965, 1917-03-15

Statistics show that only about 1s
per cent Of the lands in Louisiana are
In cultivation; the remaining 81 per
cent includes abandoned farm lands,
timber lands, the cut-over pine belt,
a considerable area of swamp land
along the rivers, and large strip of
marsh land along the coast.
Even in the better cultivated Sec
tions there is always an abundance of
land which is not cultivated every
year, and when these lie in the allu-
, vial plains or smaller river valleys
they are almost invariably clothed In
a wonderful sod of Bermuda grass
and white clover, with smaller tracts
OF lespedeza, Johnson grass and many
other useful forage crops intimately
mixed with liberal growth of weeds,
hriars 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 to
waste because of the lack of sufficient
cattle or other animals to Craze it off
In way to return profit to the own
er. The cut-over pine lands and hill
sections Of the state are generally cov-
cred with natural growth Of the
sedge grasses, some of the wild le.
gumes and varying amount of TN
derbrush, which increases as one goes
toward the northern part of the state.
1t would be almost impossible to esti.
mate the amount of natural wealth
which is wasted in not properly util-
lzing these spontaneous growths for
live stock production, as there is un-
questionably enough Of it to maintain
many hundreds Of thousands of cattle
and sheep II properly used.
While no accurate data is available
that would show the carrying capacity
Of all classes Of pasturage, 1t is Ger.
tain that the better pastures in the
alluvial section of the state have a
carrying capacity far in excess Of the |
ordinary estimates of average land In |
Southern states. One pasture of 200 |
acres, consisting Of heavy black land |
sod with Bermuda and white clover
has carried nearly two head of cattle
to the acre for nine or ten months
of the years 1915 and 1916. The only
pastures which one sees grazed down
to where they are really In the best |
condition are the small piats about
barns and premises where the mules
and family milk cows have free access
TO comparatively small areas.
The carrying capacity of the cut
over pine and hill lands are, Of
course, not nearly so great. It is
perhaps safe to say, however, that the
poorest Of our pine hills and flats will
larry one mature animal for every five
Lcres without improvement, though It
S not recommended that they be used {
n this way, as all of them can be
'reatly improved for pasture purposes !
" small expenditure for seeding
With lespedeza, white and burr clover,
and paspalum grasses. It Is 6
Iuite probable that for at least gen.
ration to come these pine lands are
.oing to be more useful for stock rails
ng on an extensive basis than for
ny other purpose, and when they
ave served their purpose in this di.
ection they will be more productive
7hen cut UP into small farms, as they I
o doubt will be in due course Of t
me. b
To look at the question more from d
he standpoint Of the individual farm, o
casual survey will convince anyone Il
nat the average farmer Of Louisiana S
WINS or controls much more land than "
9 titilizes for any practical purposes f,
ear after year These waste lands. II
enerally speaking, could be made to "
ay part Of the expenses of the farm ;,
they were properly fenced and con. :
erted into pasturage for the grazing :. :,
live stock.--G. e. Nesom, Live Stock =, :,
Service, Louisiana State !
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