A Successful Southern Hay Farm

"In localities where a one-crop system has prevailed for a number of years farms which deviate from this system are of a special interest, because they show what types of farming are possible in the section in which they are located. In the cotton-growing States such farms are of unusual interest for the reason that so few of them exist. Much of the hay consumed on Southern farms and plantations is shipped from the North. As a result, hay is high priced in the South. There is room for a considerable number of hay farms in that section. That such farms can be made to pay handsomely is demonstrated by the experience of the farmer whose work is described in these pages. Not every hay grower can follow the methods here described. It is not necessary, however, that a farmer should feed steers for their manure, as is done on this farm, in order to be able to grow hay. While nothing else is quite equal to manure, the land can be kept in good heart by plowing under an occasional green crop and then using lime and commercial fertilizers. A brief discussion of hay growing under more usual conditions on souther farms will be found at the end of this bulletin." -- p.7