Cut-Over Pine Lands in the South. 51 



where certain general practices become well established. So great 

 a variety of feed and forage crops is grown that men on adjoining 

 farms may follow different methods in the management of their 

 cattle, each advocating his method as the best. Therefore the de- 

 mand for definite information concerning the region is insistent. 



In answer to questionnaires 51 per cent of the lumbermen who 

 did not already own cattle stated they were interested in the pur- 

 chase of cattle to put on their lands. In entering the cattle busi- 

 ness in this region, however, each man has to do his own experi- 

 mental work according to his individual needs, because of the 

 lack of any other source of information. Such information as the 

 private owner may obtain, even though it is accurately recorded, 

 is not available to the public and its value is lost. Many prob- 

 lems must be worked out locally by the individual, but such prob- 

 lems as the improvement of the pastures and the utilization of 

 velvet beans are of such general importance that immediate experi- 

 mental work is imperative. Other problems necessarily are con- 

 nected and should be worked out at the same time. 



Pasture problems involve the practical application of the present 

 agronomic knowledge of the pasture plants adapted to the Piney 

 Woods. Accurate data are needed concerning the relative merits of 

 these plants as determined by methods of establishment, cost of estab- 

 lishment, ease of maintenance, and productive value when grown on 

 a scale sufficient for the commercial production of cattle. Methods 

 must be worked out to protect the desirable pasture plants now found 

 on the range, and to facilitate their reseeding and natural spread so 

 that wire grass and broom sedge may be replaced. 



Feeding problems involve the use of home-grown feeds for winter- 

 ing cattle and fattening for market. The economical use of velvet 

 beans, silage, and legume hays is of particular importance. 



The problems of herd management under Piney Woods conditions 

 involve systems of breeding, handling the herd, methods of summer- 

 ing and wintering, prevention of disease, and marketing, on all of 

 which accurate data must be obtained before the business in that sec- 

 tion can be conducted on a safe basis. 



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