The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1922-05-25


grass. several paspalums, some little Japan
clover and large number of other varieties
There have been a few remarkable pas
lures seeded and developed in other sections
of Florida, and some of these on lands not
naturally as well adapted to grasses as some
in Marion county. The most successful of
these are sodded with Dallis agrass-pas-
palum dilatum This is the grass that put
New Zealand on the map as dairy country.
Some very fine Dallis grass pastures have
been developed in South Georgia and Cen
trail Alabama.
Four of our cattle men have during this
winter seeded Dallis grass pastures; some
of these are also seeding Japan clover or
lespedeza and few other newly introduced
pasture grasses.
POULTRY RAISING
DR.. N. w. Sanborn, poultry specialist of
the Florida Agricultural College, and ma
tionally known as an authority on such mat
tiers, makes the statement that the best
kept, best systematized poultry farm in the
United States is located in Marion county.
During the year 1920 the one thousand hens
on this farm laid an average of 161 eggs
apiece. These eggs were shipped by ex-
press to Miami. The lowest price received
was 35c. per dozen, the highest Csc. per
dozen, the average was over Soc.
This poultry farm is located on one of the
smaller lakes of the county near a shipping
locations. The yards are sodded In Bermuda
grass and the houses are built on skids, and
can be easily moved about on this grass,
which supplies green feed most of the year.
The prices of eggs are always higher in
Florida than In other states. This Is espe-
cially true during the winter months. And
our climate does not interfere with high egg
yields during these high price months. A
freight train conductor few months age
telling of the eggs brought into and through
the state for the Cuban markets, said that
on his previous two trips his trains had il
them seven solid cars of eggs.
For the tourist hotels and the club trade
great number of broilers, roasters, hens
and capons are needed. Good eating fowls
are never cheap. Nine lines of railroads ira
verse the county and shipping facilities art
as good as can be found in Florida. Lime
and grit are abundant. Diseases and yer
min are no worse than in more northern
states. Poultry raising offers fine prospects
in Marion county.
With every advantage of year-round pas
turage and outdoor living, of an almos
endless number of food and forage crops, O
limestone soils, of healthy cows, of few in
sect pests, highest dairy products market
in the United States at our doors, and witt
the newly organized creamery company
Marion is bound to become the leading dair.
county in Florida.
Elsewhere, under the heading of Forag
Crops, viii be found fuller setting forth o
the numerous and varied kinds of cattl
feeds that grow in Marion. The long grow
ing season and enormous yields of thes
make for cheaper milk.
The equable climate reduces costs of bar
construction to minimum, and the open al
life makes for healthy cows and easily rails
ed calves. Furthermore, there are no op
pressive hot days in summer, and nights ar
always pleasantly cool. We have no recor
of heat stroke among dairy cows. Thes
things contribute to an even milk flow an
longer milking period.
Limestone countries have always becom
famous for the mettle of the livestock pro
duced on their soils The grasses and graf
and water give the bone and stamina no
found in less favorable soil types Marion
soils are filled and underlain with limestone
Among our dairy cows we have formerl
had very little tuberculosis and no conta
gious abortion.
Any fluid milk market report will shoy
whole milk prices for Florida cities to b
we'll above the next highest prices else
where. In 1920 the city of Tampa importe
and used l 500, 900 pounds of butter; the cit
of Miami used $4,000 pounds of buttel
The scores of other smaller cities and town
import creamery butter, and almost ever
provision store in the state sells came
milk from other states. The average pric
of creamery butter is SOC. per pound
4 creamery has been organized in Mario
county during 1921 and is prepared t
handle sweet whole milk, sweet cream an
: sour cream. 1t manufactures ice cream an
some butter, but the bulk of the milk prc
duced goes to the creamery as whole mil
! and after being clarified, pasteurized an
cooled is sold as whole milk, especially /