Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-12-19

followed by wheat and rye. OF the
special crops cultivated sweet pota-
toes stood first with peanuts and Sug-
ar cane second and third respectively.
Only a comparatively small amount
of tobacco was grown on any of these
farms.
1t would seem, therefore, that the
figures presented should fairly rep
resent the possibilities of our south
ern soils. Under intelligent manage
ment it is demonstrated at least
that they can be cultivated to ad-
vantage under a great variety of eli
matte, soil and economic conditions.
It is evident that the more closely
We pursue good practice, which will
include the utilization of scientific
methods and diversification and ro-
tation of crops, the larger our re-
turns will be and the more perma-
nent and satisfactory the type of ag-
riculture developed.
Data on Feeding Cattle on stlage
A. J, K, Gay, Ga, writes: Please
give me information regarding feeding
cattle on silage What should be fed
with silage? At the present price of
cottonseed meal would you advise feed
ing it or using something in its place.
We have had a long and extensive
experience in the utilization of silage
as a roughage for beef and dairy
cattle. You do not say what class Of
animals you expect to feed, but pre-
sumably you have beef animals in
mind. In that event, there are two
methods of procedure to follow.
First, if you wish to carry these cat
tie through the winter as cheaply as
possible you can feed them and main
tain them on silage with a very small
addition of cottonseed meal, say not
over one to two pounds per head per
day, depending on the age, size and
condition. Cottonseed meal should
not be fed to calves under six months
of age, and better not until they are
twelve months of age. 1t can be fed
in association with silage better than
any other form of roughage save
grass itself.
Where one desires to feed cattle
to be finished for slaughter in the
spring one should proceed as fol-
lows: Put them in yards about the
first of December. Supply them with
an abundance of clean, wholesome 81
lage. In other words, do not expect
them to use sour, mouldy or rotten
silage satisfactorily. If the feeding
troughs are in the open they should
be protected from the weather. They
should be cleaned out from time to
time to keep them in a wholesome
condition.
We would begin by giving these
cattle one to two pounds of cotton
seed meal day, scattered over the
silage. This can be increased about
one-half pound a week. Presumably
you would expect to finish these cat
tie in ninety to hundred days. We
would not feed over six to eight
pounds of cottonseed meal per head
per day, depending on the size and
age of the animals being finished. We
have not found it profitable to in
crease the cottonseed meal beyond
the point indicated and we do not
think you should hasten the gains by
doing so, whereas, on the other hand,
you might cause the animals to get
off feed Or possibly occasionally to
go blind. This is due to using an
excessive amount of protein, which
is a wasteful and 'ill-advised prac
tice in any event. - ia
You can, of course, feed peanut
meal in place of cottonseed meal if
you find it cheaper 1t contains about
the same amount of protein and will
prove about as acceptable food, If
you can buy velvet bean meal con-
siderably cheaper than any one of
the others you might mix half vel
vet bean meal and half cottonseed
meal Feed in the manner already
indicated. If you have velvet beans
in quantity on your own farm these
may be harvested and soaked and
made to supply the concentrated part
Of the ration, the silage being fed
either with or without the beans,
according to convenience.
Where one is feeding cattle in the
winter season in this section of the
south it is desirable to provide them
with a shelter into which they can
go in bad, rainy weather. Other
wise 1t is desirable for them to take
as much exercise as possible in the
open,