FLORIDA
An Ideal Cattle State
Copyrighted 1918 by
THE FLORIDA STATE LIVE STOCK ASSOCIATION
P. O. Box 1181
Jacksonville, Florida
Foreword
By W. F. Blackman, Ph. D., LL. D.
President of the Florida State Live Stock Association,Member of the Florida State Live Stock Sanitary Board.
Requests for authentic information as to the advantages andpossibilities of Florida for the growing of live stock, and inparticular of beef cattle, have been coming of late, and in constantlyincreasing numbers, from all parts of the country.
This booklet has been compiled for the purpose of providing thisinformation.
The gentlemen who have contributed to the volume are men of ability,long and successful experience in the live stock and kindred industries,and the most trustworthy character. Several of them have been engagedfor many years in the growing and marketing of cattle on a very largescale in Texas, and have recently made a prolonged and close study ofFlorida conditions. The report of their findings is of the utmostinterest.
Prof. C. V. Piper, agrostologist of the Bureau of Plant Industry,Department of Agriculture, Washington, is recognized as the foremostauthority on Southern grasses and forage crops. We are indebted to himfor permission to make use of the valuable address on this importantsubject which was made by him at the recent annual meeting of theFlorida State Live Stock Association.
A study of these papers will make it evident, I believe, that Floridapossesses a number of advantages for the profitable growing of livestock greater than those to be found elsewhere; among these are a mild,equable and healthful climate, comparative freedom from animal diseases,a long grazing season, vast areas of cheap lands, a soil adapted to thegrowing of numerous improved grasses and forage crops (especially suchlegumes as the velvet bean, the cow pea, the soy bean, the vetches, theindigenous beggar-weed, the peanut, and certain clovers), a copious andwell-distributed rainfall, and countless springs, streams and lakes,providing almost everywhere an abundant and unfailing supply of purewater.
There can be no doubt, I believe, that Florida will take a leading placein the near future among the important live stock states of the Union.What she needs is additional thousands of intelligent, energetic,thrifty and experienced farmers, who will take advantage of theopportunities she offers and develop to the full her immense and latentresources.
Lake Monroe, February, 1918.
POSSIBILITIES OF BEEF PRODUCTION IN FLORIDA.
By Frank S. Hastings, Manager of the S. M. S. Ranch,Stamford, Texas, who spent two weeks studying conditions inFlorida just previous to the Sixth Annual Convention of theFlorida State Live Stock Association, at which he was one ofthe speakers. These impressions have been prepared by Mr.Hastings for the benefit of the cattle men of Florida.
Before coming to the State I asked that I might see as many classes ofcattle as possible and in as many different parts of the State aspossible.
My first trip was through the Everglades. I then made a trip nearGainesville, and visited the registered Hereford herd owned by Mr. N. A.Callison; also the grade herd of both Herefords and Shorthorns owned byMr. A. L. Jackson of Gainesville, and the pure-bred and graded Shorthornherd owned by Mr. S. H. Gai