24 The Dawn of a New Constructive Era 



Practical Utilization of Cut- 

 Over Lands 



By Stanley F. Morse 



Consulting Agricultural Expert, formerly of the 

 University of Arizona 



Gentlemen : — I am going to endeavor, in a very few mo- 

 ments, to outline briefly the possible methods of practical utili- 

 zation of these cut-over lands. The first thing I want to call 

 your attention to is the fact that the method of utilization should 

 be based on the local conditions. I find, in going over the cut- 

 over lands, that there doesn't seem to be enough attention paid 

 to this fact — that there is a great variety in the conditions 

 amongst which these various lands are situated. 



For instance, let us take the conditions that will obtain in 



the different sections where the cut-over lands are located. We 



Difjcrences in ^^^ ^y^^^ ^^^ ^^.g^ ^^^ most vital difference is that of climate. I 



Climate Must . , . i- ^i • u j-rr 



B Consid- don t suppose many of you realize there is so much diiierence, 



^.r^ff but if you will travel north from New Orleans a hundred miles 



you will find there is an appreciable difference in the dates of 

 early and late frosts, and in the mildness of the winter. 



Let us take simply the mildness of the winter. That makes 

 a great deal of difference from a cattle-raising standpoint, be- 

 cause in the milder sections you not only do not need such elab- 

 orate shelters, but the feed will remain greener for a longer 

 period. Then, of course, the early and late frosts help to deter- 

 mine the kind of crops you can plant. So the first thing to be 

 considered is the matter of climate, and that is also tempered 

 by the elevation. For instance, you may strike a certain locality 

 which is considerably higher than another, and you will find that 

 the temperature is cooler ; and in another place in the same latitude 

 lower down you will find a milder climate. 



The second thing is the soil. A great many people seem to 



t" \j^'o'^-j think the land of the cut-over section is more or less the same 



Land Soils . ^ „ , r r t ^ <• j 



Offer Wide ^^"^ of soil. That is a fallacy. As a matter of fact, I have found 



Variety soils varying in the cut-over district from a heavy clay to a very 



light sand. That will make a considerable difference as to the 



