Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1855-05-11
ADVANTAGES OF THE DROUGHT.

ADVANTAGES OF THE DROUGHT.
II would be unwise to pass through
such scourging as the drought VI
last summer. without learning some
useful lessons. Among the lessons
much needed in the West. was econo-
my. We had been wasteful from the
beginning to the end. We were waste
ful Of our soil. In many instances It
was but half plowed. and half plant
ed, and halftilled. Often whole fields
were permitted to crest" when a ju-
dicious rotation Of crops" would have
been better for the land. and far more
profitable to the owners. Hundreds
Of acres have been almost useless as
"calf pastures" "hog lots" or the
like. that might have brought good
crops. We are glad to see. this spring.
all such spots that can possiblybe SPAR
ed. put In potatoes. or corn. or some-
thing else that will do to eat. This is
one good result Of the drought.
After gathering our half crops, we
have been wasteful Of the proceeds
How many hundreds of tuns Of good
straw have been almost thrown away,
BIZ being allowed to rot in the open
fields. or in heaps in the barn-yards!
Though we can make vast improve
ment yet. in this respect, we have
learned something from the drought.
BY the use Of "cutting boxes" more
straw has been fed the past winter than
ever before. Even without cutting.
cattle and horses have been fed upon
it more than formerly. This Isl good
lesson. and we hope that "cutting
boxes" will multiply and that even
wheat straw viii forR considerable
part Of chopped feed" hereafter
That il is better than oats straw is now
generally admitted. Some good far
mers think II worth from three -fourths
to sevcn-eights as much as timothy
hay even to feed. long. Cattle and
colts will nearly winter on II, If kept
in sheds. and look about as well rs II
fed only on hay. When used to It.
some say they viii cat il as WE'LL and
do as well on il. as on hay. We are
satisfied that in this respect. the
drought has done US good. II, in fu-
ture, our wheat straw will be preserv-
ed and used for provender, we have
not learned the lesson too dearly.
But there has hitherto been diff
Guilty in using chopped feed" To
make it profitable. Il must be mixed
with bran. or shorts. or meal. In most
instances, it is so difficult to get these
that farmers who are even disposed te
economize, have been deferred from
using the cut straw. They have pro-
cured "cutters," which. after q few
months trial. they have laid aside n
too troublesome. But new era ha'
dawned. Necessity. the mother o
invention" has recently brought forth
her most promising child. in the form
of little mill, cheap enough TO b
within the reach Of nearly every farm
err. at least to be in every neighbor
hood, and so small rs to be put up il
any barn floor, without Inconvenience
Any man can thus become his owl
miller. And, what Is very desirable
he can Ego to mill" when II Is raining
too hard to work in the fields. Tn,
mill not only shells for itself, but !
grinds the cob into meal. fine enough
for use. Having served the "beasts o
the field IL can set its teeth for man
use. and make hominy. and pretty pas
sible "mush stuff" all the better 70
being a little coarser than Pitt Barwicl
would make. down Mt Linck. Farqrhar
Holland Il Cos mill.
The use Of the cob for food. Is doub
ly economical. Beyond controversy
contains much nuuiment. which is no
only lost in the ordinary way, bu. III
manure Of the cob is lost--even wors
than lost. for its presence in the dung
heap is more annoying than profitable
Even admitting that the cob con
tains nc nutriment, it 10 useful, nike
with neal. would be profitable, in dis
tending the stomach. and bringing tn
nutficious substance in contact wit
the membrains OF the stomach Their
can be no question. that for all kind
Of animals. meal is preferable to uu
ground corn. In New England, an
carts Of New York. where corn is SCI
dom as high as it Is here ut present
hogs are fattened on swill made Of mes
sometimes on mush made on pur
pose, the price Of corn jastifying tn
labor bestowed on 1t. And one reaso
why the dis,iller can fatten 95 pc
cent as many hogs on the slops Of hi
distillery. AS could be fattened witt
the corn. in the ordinary way. is be
cause it is ground.
II the drought drives our farmers Il
economy. in feeding both straw an,
corn. last year will have been one o
the most profitable years we have ha,
for many years.
Wherever the LITTLE GIANT" ha
been used. it has given satisfaction
The manufacturers warrant this
With view Of introducing it, we hav,
taken the agency Of this county,