Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-04-29
What About the Hay cropq

In spite of the fine record we
made during the war period in many
southern states in the matter OF
food production we seem to have
fallen short in the matter of hay.
A broker told me a few days ago
that he had taken orders for 26O
car lots of hay in one day. This
statement was so remarkable when
[ first heard it that l thought |
must have misunderstood him. In
quiry reveals the fact however,
that this one firm has actually sold
this amazing quantity of hay in one
day. 1t took a great deal of money
out of the pockets of Georgia farm
erS to complete this transaction.
From my point of view this money
was literally wasted. 1t represent
to the cultivation of cotton, and the
funds thus received sacrificed for
the purchase of something which we
can produce at home at a very rea-
sonable cost.
Just why we do not make ade-
quate provisions for the production
of all the hay we need has always
been a mystery. We cannot main
tain our work stock without it, nor
can we develop our live stock in
dustries on that basis which our
cultiva ton of cotton is a fetish. This
must be true or else we would Gull
tiVate hay crops more extensively
Not only will large yields be obtain
ed but a fine quality of hay produc-
ed as well. There are a good many
hay crops which can be cultivated
successfully in the southeast which
will yield a much larger amount Of
nutrients per ton than Tim
othy, for which we frequently pay
from SIS to $40 ton. Certainly we
have the land and we have the time
to produce hay crops if we have the
disposition. Let us make a special
effort during this year, therefore, to
emphasize hay production and to
raise so much of this foodstuff that
we will hav can adequate supply TO"
our own needs.
In this connection it may be well
to consider the Importance of our
work stock but we need not rely on
these to the .eXtent we some times do.
Roughage is just as essential as the
concentrates. In many. respects it
is more important because a great
deal of that fed to our live stock is
of an inferior quality and tends to
produce disorders of the digestive
tract and may often. cause sickness
and death. AS a rule we do not
feed enough poughag Work stock
require it because it furnishes the
bulky. part of the ration. Paunchy
animals such as cattle need it in
order to keep the four stomachS Of
the ruminant all performing their
proper. function. Because roughage
is comparatively. low in, nutrients it
is not the less essential and we can
not dispense with it's use. The more
of it we, can feed and the better it's
quality the less will be our bill for
concentrates and tie greater will be
the amount of service work our work
stock can perform at the lowest
cost. The roughage part
of the ration is something, there
fore, which must not be overlooked
quality of this material supplied are
Just as vital to the welfare of our
live stock as a liberal ration Of con-
centrates.
What may we use to supply our
work stock and animals with Il sat-
grade of roughage? Among
the cultivated crops to which atten-
ton may first: bGfdirected is the cow
pea. 1t contains1194 per- cent dlgeS-
t;bte protein, 54.5 per cent digestible
and II per cent dfges-
tible fat 1t is 50 rich, in protein
that it would not constitute a salts
factory hay by itself for work stock
1t is, therefore, better to seed cow
peas with sorghum, which contains
but 2.8 per cent digeStible,. protein,
44.8, per cent ,digestible icarbohy-
crates, and 2 per cent"digeSHbte fat.
The com bination of these two crops
is a happy one from many points of
view since the deficiencies in one
are offset" by the superabundance of
certain elements in the other.
AS to the method of cultivation to
follow. opinions will differ. Per-
sonally we favor seeding these two
crops, WITH the ordinary grain drill.
In this. way a finer stalk. Of sorghum
is obtained and at. cen be cured much
more readily eaten by live stock.
Third, it does not shade the cowpeas
so as to prevent their, proper pro-
i ortionate development.
Another excellent; crop to combine
with coWpeas is millet. Different
varieties may be used Common mil
let is probably the most satisfactory.
bic protein, 46 per cent digestible
c Gesbg 4st M sh like ReF c sSR
has. the advantage of being adapted
for seeding at almost any season Of
the year when there is. a reasonable
will mature hay in so to 90 days,
in the shorter period. Mil
let in peas can be broadcasted, but
our experience indicates that it is
better to seed it with the grain drill.
In planting these crops together we
would use about three pecks to
husher of peas and from 8. to II
pounds of mi1let per acre. The same
proportion and combination of cow
peas and sorghum will also be found
> Mfllet as the reader
will observe is not high in. protein,
but when combined with cowpeas
this defect is remedied. These two
crops will make standard hay of fine
CLIO litv-. admirably adanted for all