The Natchitoches enterprise. (Natchitoches, La.) 1888-1965, 1917-04-19
DIT
llyfS10C RAl HES
May Be Greatly Improved BY Planting
Bermuda and Other Pasture
Grasses.


Extension Service, l.. S. u. indicate
that there is growing tendency
among The owners and prospective
| purchasers of cut-over lands in Louis
lana to use them for establishing
cattle and sheep ranches. Among the
questions asked by inquirers are the
| number of acres required per head
! of animals kept with and without wiz
ter feeding; the estimated value of
land for grazing purposes; methods
of improving them for pasturage; the
best crops to grow for winter grazing,
silage and grain; the best class and
breeds Of cattle to use; and a few
asked about the construction of
fences, sheds, barns and siIos.
The observations made by the spe.
cialist Of this service seem to indi-
cate that cut-over pine lands do not
provide sufficient forage in winter to
prevent cattle from becoming badly
emaciated and showing a high rate of
mortality; and inquirers have been
advised that while only a few acres
will be required for each animal dur
ing the summer, even an unlimited
range in winter would not suffice to
keep the cattle in condition to pro-
duce a profit. They were advised to
undertake the improvement of the
pastures by planting Bermuda on the
cleared land or in open strips in the
Fenced area which could be cleared
up easily, and SOW lespedeza, white
and bur clover on the Bermuda sod.
l~espedeza, paspalum, and rescue
grass seed may be sown on the ma
tive grass sod on the better portions
OF the land, especially along the
branch bottoms and other places
where there is an abudance Of moist
ure throughout the year, and will
spread over the other lands by graz
ing after they have produced seed As
the lands improve, the white and bur
clovers will spread in the same way.
Further improvements in the use OF
such land for ranching purposes
could be made by clearing from 10 !
to 20 per cent and planting it in corn
with cowrels and velvet beans, scr.
ghum and soy beans for silage, lespe.
deza, cowpeas and crab grass for hay
and harvesting part Of the velvet
beans to be ground on a feed mill 10
supply bean meal feed, which is a good
homegrown substitute for cotton seed !
meal. Corn and velvet beans make
fne winter feed for cattle, sheep and
hogs if pastured after frost. Oats and
Vetch sown in October will furnish
grazing during the winter and spring.
Although it is not necessary to keep
'attle in full flesh over the winter II
hey are to be grazed the following
spring and sumner, they should not
re allowed to get so thin as to impair
heir health and vigor before spring
,razing is available.
The Carrying capacity of cut-over
Vine lands can be so improved by
hese methods that much less than 10
Lcres will be required per head of
attle kept. The value of the land for
I've stock production can be figured
n the value Of the animals produced
ID given area. II ten acres will
roduce a scrub yearling that will sell
or $500 and the cost of operations,
interest on investment, taxes, etc.
mount to $1,000 per head, the net In.
ONE will be SOC per acre, or 10 per
ant on a value Of $500 per acre. II,
18th improved cattle and methods, a
God grade yearling that will sell for
5000 can be produced on acres at
total cost of $500, figured as above,
he net income will be $500 per acre 2
10 per cent on valuation of 8
5000. G. E. Nesom, 3
i've Stock Extension Service Louis.
lana State University.