The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1846-06-19
WINTER ROOD FOR STOCK.

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WINTER FOOD FOR STOCK.
To enable herbivorous animals 10 as
Mmila,e their fsod, il is necessary that the
nutriment should be disseminated through
sufficient bulk TO give disteniion TO the bow.
els during the process Of digestion. 10 ad-
di.oa TO bulk, Eliminating animals require
also food Of tibrous nature 10 enable them
10 chew The cud-a function which e1perl.
encc proves is essential TO health.
Green kerbdge is undoubtedly tho food
best adapted 10 the natural wants OF these
animals. |, has been remarked by a sem
sble writer on this subject, Mr.. w. Z.
Spooner, lha, good grass is the only kind
of food 10 which nuirimen., bulk and sue.
culence are combined in the proportions ex.
actly suited TO their habits. But 10 many
situations where the wants of man render
the keeping Of stock Indispensable, II is i'm
possible TO supply them at all times with
what may be considered their most natural
food and for this, we must therefore adopt
the most proper substitute.
Dried heritage, of the kind which in lis
green state is most congeniai 10 animals, is
unques,ionably the mos, suitable for the
principal, or bulky par, Of their food during
the time in which artificial support is requlr.
ed. Hence, hay properly made, from the
most nu,ri,lve grass, and from clover, is
frs. to be chosen. Bu, even with the hes,
Of hay, something moro is required to form
for the animal perfectly natural food
Succulence is wanting, and IN most dry
fodder there is deficiency Of nutrlmcn:,
Ii is, Of course, az object for the farmer
TO grow such crops as vii, furnish food FOR
bis stock at the lcas, expense bu, as cir.
cumstances in regard 10 soil, climate, &c,
vary much, no rule OF universal application
can be laid down. The cereal grams, on
account Of the large proportion Of nuiti-
ment which they contain, will always be
profitably cultivated and used TO greater
or less extent And 80 far as the produc-
ton Of food for stock is required, lndian
corn will take the first rank among grain
crops, IN oil situations adapted to its culture.
The deficiency Of nu,rimenl 10 any kind
OF dry fodder, M be supplied by adding to
the animn's allowance, due proportion Of
some kind Of grain; but TO furnish the an
imal with food most congenial TO its natu.
raj habits, the addition OF something more
sacculen, would doubtless in many cases be
of advantage. Hay or straw, with mode.
rate quantities Of grain, 10 some form, TO.
gether with juicy vegetables, furnish the
best substitute for grass.
la this country, potatoes carrots, beets
&C., are somewhat cultivated, either for
fattening animals, or as nuxllIaries TO dry
food in wintering stock. The question is
often asked, which Of these articles can be
most proG!ably grown by the farmer aud
as before suggested, the answer must de-
pend 90 several circumstances. The writer
has had some experience in cul,iyating aud
using oil these vegetables, and few Of the
conclusions induced by this experience will
be briefly stated.
l. On cold and rough soils, or those Of
only medium and inferior quality, The pota.
to is TO be preferred.
=. Ga warm, rich soil the carrot is most
profitable.
3. Between bceis and turnips, the latter
should be chosen FOR the more thin soils and
and cool climate, and tho former for a
deeper coil and more warm aud aid
climate.
According to the estimates mads by
Thaer, feii, aud others, land which It may
be observed are supported generally BY the
writer's eSperience,) Of the comparative
value Of these vegetables, tuo bushels Of 20.
taioes are equivalent 10 feeding animals TO
three bushels Of beets, or to three OF ruta-
baga, four Of white turnips, or tleo and
three fourths Of catrots-allowng the same
weight per bushel for each. Some esti
mate the carrot equal 10 The potatoe, weigh
for weight
Ga rough and thin soIs, potatoes can be
cultivated with much less labor than either
Of the other vegetables namsd, aud there
are bat lew situations where yield Of al
least two hundred bushels per acre may no
be obtained This would be equal to three
hundred bushels of beets or ruta baga, OIL
four hundred Of white turnips and yet We
are confident We have raised from two &c
three hundred bushels Of potatoes per acte,
in situations where neither bee,s, turnps
nor carrots would i've given q gteater
yield, though the cos, Of cultivation woulc
have been considerably more.
But ON the soils exactly adapted to car
rois, yield can be obtained SO much grea,
er than is afforded by potatoes, as TO thro'
throw the balance decidedly in favor OF tn
former.
Carrots may be sown from the 10Th c
April to tho lst Of June, though on Iigh
nud dry soils, we should prefer sowing then
as early as the ground is found to have &C
qulred sufficient degree of heat to caus
The seed TO vegetate. Beets may be sow
from the FIRST 10 the ooh May-ruta baa
from the 2Oih May to the 10Th June-ant
fiat or common white tuTnips, from the 20tF
July to the 10Th August. The chief adj
vantage Of raising the latter for stock, con.
sist 10 the laleness oil the season at which
it admits Of being sown-ire9uently occu,
PyIng land from which a crop Of hay or rye
may have been taken the same SEASON.
They are very useful for cattle and sneel