St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1918-03-09
CROPS FOR HAY

.lject will be to get the crops
most suitable to the soil, crops
that will yield the most and
best feeds under the eondi-
tons.
One Of the demands upon
the farms this year will be for
plenty of hay to feed the ami
mails. Not only should there be
plenty for the cows, the sheep
the goats, and a little to sell
would not be Objectionable.
Feeding is usually expensive
when hay must be bought.
This is clear when we consider
hat hay is bulky, that is, a ton
Of hay contains little feed
ing constituents in comparison
3 the bulk, hence when hay
naust be bought it is quite ex-
pensiVe. The hauling must be
considered, the market cost of
the producer, the profits Of The
producer and dealer. In fact
we find hay expensive when
we buy it, but it is raised 50
much Of the expense is elimin-
ated that it becomes economi-
cal feed.
While it was stated that hay
contains little feeding value it
is nevertheless a fact that it is
a very important feed. Such
animals as cows, beef cattle,
sheep, calves, lambs, goats,
etc., require a certain amount
Of bulky foods. This is espe-
cially true with cattle and
sheep. Grains and other con
c~entrates are more economics
when roughage is also fed.
Cows will soon fail in milk
production without good hay
because Of their poor appe-
tites-same is true with work
horses, mules and sheep.
The best hay crop for you i
the crop that produces the
largest quantity Of the best
! hay. This will be one Of the
Iegumes, such as alfalfa, clio
yer, vetch, peas, soy beans, les
pedeza, peanuts, etc, if any Of
them will yield well under the
conditions on your farm. This
is true because Of high feed
ing value and excellent pala-
liability Of the legumes. Take
for instance, alfalfa. 1t is re,
lished by livestock, it yields
well where it thrives, affordine
from three to FIVE cuttings 3
year, and animals are very
!, fond Of it. Alfalfa hay re.
duces the amounts of protein
and carbohydrates needed Il
other feeds because it Is rlcl
in thes feeding constituents.
Other things being equal lie
gumes are the best hay crops
and should have preference
There are several that haV'
! wide adaptations and henc'
] usually one or more can 3.
found suitable for local condl
tons.
There are. however, non-le
gunles that seem almost indls
pensable for hay or coarse for
age. Among the best are.sac
: charine sorghum, Sudan grass
millet, johnson grass, sedg
grass, etc, red top, wild prairi'
grasses, etc, Kafr, milo, fete
rita and other Of the sorghum
are generally used as a grain
though they are sometime
!. planted for forage and for sll
age.
One is fortunate when he ha
d meadow that is more or les
permanent. In this case it
not necessary to SOW ever,
year and the conquest 9
: weeds is not SO important. !
possible one will find it pay
d to SOW for permanent moWin.
Y and thus be prepared for hay
The meadow will revive tn
land and make it more produc
j tive when planted in crop
that require cultivation. Eve.
& where the land is so badl.
i worn that it does not produc
] hay It may afford grazing TO
Z stock and at the same tim
I benefit to the soil.
h There are now very fey
4 ranches and farms where tn
q managers feel that they can a
! ford to leave the land to will
I grasses for hay. Lands ar
i more expensive than formerl'
I and unless a good crop of ha.
! worth considerable in the mar
J ket.can be had it would b,
I more profitable to plant q crol
I that would produce more
/ Compare the proceeds from al
I acre of prairie hay producini
1 about a ton at two cutting
with three or four cuttings q