By F. H. Jeter,
Editor, Agricultural Extension Service, N.C. State College, as published in the
Charlotte Observer, June 13, 1949
SMALL GRAINS
The folks in Cleveland always set great store by their crops
of small grain. Two important meetings were held at the outstanding fields,
where grain grown by Lee McDaniels of the Bethlehem community and Lloyd Wilson
of the Fallston section was inspected. More than 150 neighbors gathered at the
McDaniel farm to study the different methods of fertilizing small grain along
with the proper seed bed preparation, time of seeding, different varieties, and
the results of applying top-dressing material at different times.
The North Carolina Crop Improvement Association is
conducting an official variety test in co-operation with Lloyd Wilson. About 75
men gathered to see the difference in yields by the several strains and
varieties planted by Mr. Wilson. The growers say that weeds are becoming an
increasing menace to grain growing in that area. Many of those who grow small
grain on the same field, year after year, find that the weeds almost choke out
the growth in a year or so. Particularly do they have trouble with the ragged
robin. Some have just about discontinued the production of wheat on their farms
because of this weed trouble.
DYNAMITE
The work of reclaiming good land through the use of dynamite
blasting gained headway this season. Over 175 of his neighbors gathered in
early May at the farm of C.B. Austell who had a good piece of rich bottom land
completely unusable because of poor drainage. Mr. Austell blew a ditch 2,000
feet long and said that this one ditch has reclaimed some of the most fertile
land on his farm.
Many of his neighbors have similar situations. C.C. Falls of
Lawndale, Route 3, had to blow three ditches to reclaim some rich bottom land
standing covered with water. He used 10 sticks of dynamite but said the results
were worth the expense.
Paul Davis and A.T. Randle of the Stone Point community have
used the blasting method to reclaim good land needing drainage on their farms.
Mr. Davis blew a ditch 375 feet long to reclaim a field that was useless to him
because the water would stand on it after a rain.
LIVESTOCK
All the liverstock in Cleveland County has benefitted from
the fine pastures. Ted Ledford of Kings Mountain, Route 2, in the Midway
section of the county, says that ladino clover and orchard grass can be more
than a pasture. He owns about 30 acres of improved pasture but the clover and
grass grew so fast this spring that he cows could not keep up with it. So when
he saw the orchard grass with 40 inches high and the clover covering the whole
earth to a depth of 15 inches, despite his cows grazing there, he very promptly
brought out his tractor and mowing machine and converted this extra growth into
hay. In his opinion, this 30-acre field is one of the most profitable spots on
the farm and he suggests to all Ladino planters that they keep their growth
under control so the clover will not die out.
Several farmers are using fescue grass with the Ladino, and
Tom Cornwell of Shelby, Route 1, says it is about the best grass that he has
ever had on his farm. Paul and Dewey Hawkins seeded five acres of fescue in the
fall of 1947, and they say it’s a real help to beef cattle. Two years ago, only
four or five men had any fescue, but now it is being grown in all parts of the
county. Those who have it say they can begin grazing by March 1, which is early
for that section.
COTTON
While sod crops aid with livestock production and also help
to keep the land from washing, Cleveland is still a cotton growing county, one
of the best in the state. They made about 63,000 bales on 63,000 acres [mistake
in one of the numbers?] last year. When cotton is grown on that rolling
countryside, there is some erosion. Most of the farms were already well
terraced but much additional terracing was done this year before the cotton
crop was planted.
K.W. Carroll of Kings Mountain, Route 1, terraced 40 acres of cotton land; Robert Blanton of Shelby, Route 4, terraced 70 acres; and quite a bit of terracing was done by Gus Evans of Shelby; R.H. Bridges, Shelby, Route 4; and C.C. Owens of Shelby, Route 4.
DAIRY CATTLE
Cow owners of the county have learned by experience that
horns on their milk cows are just as serious as cotton land without terraces.
Cows with horns do not permit their herd members to eat in peace, especially
when the animals are placed in the lounging barn. Cows with horns are also
dangerous to those handling them. So, there was much dehorning throughout the
county before the hot weather set in. H.R. Early of Lattimore, Star Route,
finished dehorning the remainder of his herd, and all the animals with horns on
the farms of Ray Wilson, Ed Carroll, Henry Bingham, and Harold B. Dellinger of
the Fallston community were dehorned.
The quality of dairy cattle in the county may be seen by the
fact that J.C. Randle of Kings Mountain, Route 2, sold one of his Guernsey
bulls to the Southeastern Artificial Breeding Association at Asheville. This
animal is one of the best in the state, with a record of high producing
daughters. Mr. Randle has 100 acres of cleared land on his farm, with 27 acres
in seeded pasture.
Twelve grade “A” dairy barns were built in ClevelandCounty
as the price for processing milk began to decline. Noah Pruett of Casar, Route
1, has a nice herd of Jersey cows and an excellent Ladino pasture. Dairying
suits and rolling land of his farm and with the aid of temporary grazing crops,
he can produce milk just about as economically as the next man. He is,
therefore, getting fixed to stay in the dairy business from now on and will
sell only the premium grade “A” product.
Paul Herman of Kings Mountain, Route 2, is building a grade
“A” barn for his Jersey herd. He added a metal silo in 1948 and has excellent
pastures. Grady Hamrick of Boiling Springs, another enthusiastic Jersey
breeder, has just completed a grade “A” barn to be used in connection with the
good pastures which he seeded last fall.
Nearly all of these Cleveland dairymen have alfalfa for hay
along with the pastures, and many of them are seeding more acres to the hay
crop as they add cows. It takes good hay for roughage as well as good grazing
to produce milk economically. Plenty of good roughage helps to control bloat
when the pastures are lush with spring growth.
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