Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-05-11


satisfaction and success as is possible
in any part of the United states, while
the cost of production compares favor
ably with that prevailing i'm other sec
tions. Its use for nine months of the
year is not unusual. The silo obviates
the necessity of using the costly soiling
crops so extensively relied on in many
parts of the north, particularly by dairy
men.
As TO supplemental feeds or cOncen-
trates to use with silage and for ami
mails which may be running on pasture.
the state is fortunately situated. At
the present time nearly seventy million
bushels of corn. about eighteen million
bushels of oats and one million tons of
cotton seed are raised annually; and an
undetermined but rapidly increasing
amount of velvet bean and peanut meal
is manufactured. II is certain that
there will be very great and general
extension Of the acreage devoted to pea
nuts, velvet beans and soy beans in the
immediate future The oil from these
crops will first be expressed by the oil
mills and the resulting meal rendered
available as food for live stock. That
the by-products thus obtained are OF eX-
cellent value for the nutrition OF farm
animals has long since been demonstrat-
ed, not only in this country but abroad
as well. The velvet bean will shortly
be planted i'm every acre of corn. there
by not only enriching the ground but
resulting in the farmer harvesting from
twelve to twenty bushels of a most val
liable concentrated food per acre in ad-
dition to a good yield of corn. Certain
strains of velvet beans are so weather
resistant that they will keep in good
condition even when left out in the field
all winter, thus enabling certain classes
Of live stock to do the harvesting at
great saving of labor.
1t is quite certain that I'm sections
which the boil weevil has invaded that
farmers will emphasize the cultivation
of peanuts and soy beans, and hence the
amount of concentrates of every KIND
available for feeding in Georgia will
be materially increased in the next few
years. AS il is. including the area
grazed over by hogs, the state is prob
ably utilizing for feeding purposes the
nutrients equivalent to crop OF 2OO,-
OO0,0 900 bushels of corn annually. There
are only a few states which produce
corn in excess of this amount, fact
which is probably not generally appre-
ciated by our farmers at its true face
value. Under proper incentive, there is
every reason to believe that Georgia
could in the course of a few years raise
concentrates
in feeding value to a crop of 100000
600 bushels of corn. 1t has been demon
strated that no single concentrate has
greater possibilities or can be put 20
a greater variety of uses in the nutri-
ton of beef and dairy cattle than cot
ton seed meal. 1t combines in the most
happy manner imaginable with silage
for the economical production of beef
and milk. thereby enabling the corn
oats, peanuts and such other crops tn
he reserved for the maintenance of the
ever-increasing numbers of horses,
mules and swine which the state is
now producing. In the matter of con-
centrates, therefore, Georgia is ia
vorably situated.
To some it may appear that this pic
ture is exceedingly rosy. and they may
naturally inquire If there are any diff
ficulties to be overcome in the mat
ter of promoting live stock husbandry
in the south. In fairness TO all, it Is
proper to say that they are certain
difficulties to cope with in Georgia as
elsewhere. Probably the most serious
obstacle is the presence Of the cattle
tick Fortunately, II has been cleared
out of fifty-two counties since 1908, and
even at the present rate of progress.
the state should forever be free of this
pest in five years. In the tick-frea
areas any class or race of cattle adapt
ed to the temperate zone can now be
handled with facility and success. Hogs
can be grown successfully in all parts
of Georgia, but probably more econom-
ically in the southern part Of the state
than elsewhere because Of the greater
variety of grazing crops which can be
raised by reason of the longer seasons
and the sandy nature of the soil which
nf from
tramping when wet. Hogs in this
state as elsewhere are attacked by
cholera, but since the state has pro- |
vided for their protection through the
of serum at minimum
price by the Georgia State College OF
Agriculture. the destructive influences
of this disease seem to have been great
" minimized.
One Of the drawbacks to our live stock
at present is the lack or
sufficient number of high-grade animals.
and the failure therefore on the part of
many Of our citizens to appreciate what
constitutes a thoroughly good draft
horse or g. desirable type of beef or dairy
nimal The grade of live stock is being
improved very rapidly, but there is still
much to be accomplished in this direc-
ton It IS also necessary that our peo-
pie Undertake to acquaint themselves
with the varied and complicated prob
lens of animal nutrition in more thor
,ugh and complete manner than has ever
been done in the past. We are still los
ing a considerable number of animals
from irrational feeding, and many of our
cattle. horses and hogs fail to mature |
and develop as rapidly as they should
because of this fact. 1t is not surpris-
ing that this condition should prevail
because the state has been essentially |
devoted 10 cotton cultivation. and live
stock growing until recently has re-
NAMED a subsidiary interest. Now that
the boil weeviI has entered the borders
Of the state. 1t is clearly evident to all |
thinking citizens that the farmer can
best and most quickly recoup himself
for any losses which might occur I
the reduction of his cotSon
acreage or the damage the weevil might |
work in his fields through the emphasis
1f animal Industries, and IT is believed /
that the campaign of education which
has been inaugurated by the Georgia
State College of Agriculture with refer
snce to instructing the people in the ele-
nentary principles of animal nutrition
will rapidly bear fruit.
Since there is a good deal of cheap
and. and not much of it devoted either
70 the profitable production of trees or
The growing of farm crops, it would be
IN easy matter 10 maintain and mate