. 



524 AGRICULTURAL APPR(3PRL\TI0N BILL, 1924. 





Now, 1 want to state that so far as the New Iberia farm is con- 

 cerned the returns have averaged between S7.000 and S20,000; the 

 average, I should say, was between SIS.OOO and $14,000 from that 

 farm, and I think \-ou will find that in 1922 there was an appreciable 

 increase in the returns, so that this amount must be taken from any 

 appropriation that is made by the conunittee because that amount 

 is returned to the Treasury. But, Mr. Chairman, the good tliat that 

 farm is doing in that section of the country is certainly worth more 

 than .?20,000 or S2o,000 to this country. I think if 3-ou could see 

 the interest the people in that section are taking in stock farming 

 and the great number that have gone into the cattle business — and 1 

 have stated that there are between 500 and 1,000 actually engtxged 

 in the business — and the dairies that have sprung up all over the 

 country, I do not think you gentlemen would entertain for a minute 

 any suggestion of its discontinuance. 



Now, Mr. Chairman, if there are any questions that you gentlemen 

 desire to ask in regard to the operation of tliis farm I a^tII be very 

 glad indeed to answer them. 



Mr. Andersox. I have the impression that the people not only 

 in Louisiana but tlu-oughout the coastal plains area of the South 

 ought to have considerable help with their stock problems, but along 

 with that, so far as this particular station is concerned, I have the 

 impression that the station is not well located. 



Mr. Martix. Well, I know how jou got that impression, because 

 you were kind enough to tell me last year, but I want to state that 

 that is a mistake. To begin with, I want to describe to you the 

 country down there. This is located on Bayou Teche. Our country 

 is all alluvial. The highest point there is not 10 feet above sea level. 



Senator Raxsdell. He means land that has been made b}' the 

 overflows of the Mississippi River. 



Mr. Martix. Allien you begin at the Teche the land is rather high; 

 then it begins to slope back and reaches what is known as the swamp. 

 The front portion of that land will grow anj^thing in the way of corn, 

 hay, oats, alfalfa and clover. jj 



Mr. Magee. Is it black soil ? 



Mr. ALvimx. No; that is sandy soil; but when you go back you 

 gradually get to the black soil that is subject to overflows. That soil 

 grows a hay which, in food value, is way beyond eitlire alfalfa or I 

 clover. It is a hay known as pave Finne. It grows in abundance ' 

 where the soil is damp; it grows wild down there but it can be trans- 

 planted. You can dig it up by the roots, transplant it, and it will 

 grow ver}^ well in other places. 



Mr. Lee. Is it anything like Bermuda grass ? 



Mr. Martlv. No; it is not. Tlie cattle will go up to their stomachs 

 in mud to eat this paye Finne hay and get fat on it in the winter. 

 Vou do not have to feed them when they eat paye Finne hay; you 

 do nol liave to feed them anything at all but let them feed on this 

 paye Finne hay, because it grows as well in the winter as in the 

 suuwner. 



Senator Ka.vsdell. Tell them about the factories which are making 

 paye Finne feed. 



Mr. Makti.n. We have two factories down there which, since this 

 experimental station has established the value of tliis paye Finne 

 hay, are manufacturing a mi.xed feed the base of which is paye 



