Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-09-24
GRAZING LAND OF GEORGIA


The diversification of our crops to
a desirable degree means the further
emphasis of live stock production in
this state. To attain this end we
must increase the area of our pas
ture lands. There is much interest
in this subject at the present time
and it is very encouraging that this
should be true. 1t is our desire to
encourage this movement as effec-
lively as possible. To that end spe-
cial effort has been made to gather
together information relative to the
pasture soils Of Georgia and put this
material in a condensed form so that
1t may be made available to the land
owners Of the state. 1t has taken a
great deal of effort to secure the data
incorporated in this article. Prof.
Tabor, of the agronomy division OF
the Georgia State College of Agri-
culture. has done the work. 1t repre-
sents a careful survey of the whole
state of Georgia made through the
expenditure of much personal effort.
It is, we believe, the most complete
and up-to-date summary relative to
this subject which has been prepared
In the interest of the farmers of any
southern state.
The welI-drained low lands are
generally the best areas for pastures.
The reason for this is they do not
suffer from drouth in the spring and
fall as the hills do. In Georgia the
greatest need of pastures is plenty
Of moisture during the months OF
May, June, September and October.
On rainy years when this is supplied
the rich hills make about as good
pasture as the bottom lands. Dur
Ing average years, however, bottom
lands are much superior.
Lands we'll suited to the production
OF permanent pastures are often we'll
suited to cultivated crops alo. Thus
much of the land capable of making
f1rst-clasS pasture is needed for corn.
There are low damp spots on every
farm, however, where crops cannot be
grown economically but where a pas
ture can be started easily. Such a
place should be the basis for a per-
manent pasture.
Some drainage is needed before
much of the low land is suited to
grasses. This is especially true in
the coastal plain. Much of the land
in this section can be reclaimed with
out a great deal of expense.
Much Of the land in the state not
capable Of making first-class pasture
can be Utilized for grazing. Old fields
too poor for good grasses will grow
Orocmsedge and other native grasses
that furnish little pasturage. Open
woodlands and hillsides too steep for
cultivation will likewise support
some. grasses. The returns from such
areas, however, are always small and
for this reason very little money can
be proftably invested in seeding
them.
The mountain section and the
coastal plain territory bordering
Florida and the Atlantic receive a
heavier rainfall as a rule than the
other portions of the state. AS a
consequence. the hill lands in these
places are better adapted to pastures
than the hill LANDS of other portions
of the state.
In the mountain region all rich
lands are good pasture lands, if they
are not too steep. The cove and val
ley lands are some of the best in the
state and the rich mountain sides
nearly as good. The valley lands are
of special value as reserve grazing
during the drouths.
Much of the mountain land is so
steep that it would wash" badly If
cleared, and for this reason should
not be developed as pasture lands.
Orchard grass, lespedeZa, red top,
white clover and Dallis grass are the
improved pasture plants worth seed
ing in this section. Smooth crab
grass and native paspalums come in
naturally and furnish much of the
summer grazing.
A practical pasture in the noun
tain region should have from one
fifth to one-fourth it's area of valley
lands, cove lands for flats between
the hills, and the remaining portion
Of rich mountain sides or hills, that
do not wash" badly. Good pastures