146 



The Dawn of a New Constructive Era 



Forage Crops 

 Abundant 



Many Useful 

 By-Products 



And yet, even today, it is not an uncommon sight to see 

 nondescript animals occupying valuable space, on many of our 

 farming properties, that are forced to eke out a precarious ex- 

 istence, as best they can, or die in the effort. 



We all must admit, however, that the climate of the South 

 is ideal for live stock husbandry, in all of its departments, from 

 the growing of the food crops to the finishing of the product for 

 market. 



Forage crops, in great variety, grow with a luxuriance that 

 would "tickle the palate" and "whet the appetite" of the most 

 fastidious and epicurean of our herbivorous animals. 



Among the legumes, it is only necessary to mention alfalfa, 

 which may be used for grazing, for soiling, or for hay. Les- 

 pedeza, our great Southern clover, which makes a most valuable 

 hay, and enhances the value of our pasture when mixed with our 

 native grasses. The cow pea, the soy bean, the velvet bean, the 

 clovers and some of the vetches, etc., all furnish abundant and 

 nutritious food for live stock. 



In short, the South has, or can have, a superabundance, both 

 as to quantity and variety, of these most valuable nitrogen- 

 gathering, soil-improving, and protein-producing forages, so im- 

 portant for the upbuilding and maintenance of soil fertility, as 

 well as the nutrition of animal life on the farm. 



In some sections of the South pasturage may be secured 

 practically the year round by sowing almost any of the small 

 cereals as catch crops, after the staple crops have been harvested, 

 which yield abundantly during the fall and winter months, and 

 furnish succulent food at a season of the year when such is in 

 greatest need. 



Silage crops, also, in addition to corn, such as sorghum, etc.. 

 and root crops of different varieties, produce with great abun- 

 dance, and may be used to supply excellent succulent feed for 

 cattle, hogs and sheep, after ordinary pasturage has been de- 

 pleted by the summer's grazing. 



But while that which we have enumerated might appear as 

 more than sufficient to meet all practical needs in the matter of 

 live stock feed production, it is by no means all. In addition, 

 there are the important by-products from our cotton fields ; and 

 in some parts of the South, those from our rice industry, and 

 from our sugar cane fields and factories. 



