New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-05-09
AGRICULTURAL INTELLIGENCE.
CATTLE AND FODDER.

VI we may estimate the Cattle and Sheep of the
United States as worth Five Hundred Millions Of Dol
lars-and they are doubtless worth more than that
then tie positive loss Of the American People from
Che want Of adequate food and shelter for their beasts
during the long and severe Winter just past cannot
certainly fall below Fifty, and may reach One Hundred
Millions. The cold seasOn commenced quite early, AID
has held on to period unusually lae-in fact, there
ia scarcely green blade 10 be obtained north Of lat
400 and pastures north of the Highlands will not be
really fit TO turn cattle upon before the lst of June.
But necessity has law" the cattle must live, If
they can any how be kept alive; and already herds
more gaunt and hungry than Pharaohs lean kline are
securing the whole land in search of anything that
can be eaten poaching up the soft meadows aud de-
stroyiDg the young heritage, yet barely keeping the
breath Of life within their racks Of bones In conse-
ouence Of their furnished condition, oxen cannot hall
work, and land will be miserably plowed, half har-
rowed and the prospective crops exposed to the de-
vastaons Of the scorching heat and drouth of next
July and August This Spring calves and lambs viii
be stunted sickly and feeble because the cows and
ewes were not half fed through the Winter and the
Summers yield of hay will be light because OF the
necessary damage done it by the tramphng and gnaw
ing of the meadows in April and May. We do firmly
believe that the positive loss to our people from de-
cient shelter and fodder for their cattle during the
cold season, now I'VE trust closing, will amount TO
nearer One Hundred than Fifty Millions.
This vast sum might have been saved. There was
no need of losing it, One week faithfully devoted
last Autumn by each farmer to the improvement OF his
cattle-sheler whatever it may be- would have saved
part of it, One rood of Carrots or Beets grown last
Summer for each animal kept over the Winter would
have done still more. One good cutting box In each
barn, and the faithful cutting Herewith OF seven
eghths Of the Hay and Grain fed out since last
November, would have powerfully contributed to the
desired end. More hay and other fodder might have
been saved last season by proper and effort For
even on the newlysetted praires, where cattle are
few and hsy can be cut and stacked almost any time
from July to September at cost of 81 to s. per tun,
Thousands of cattle have absolutely starved to death
within the last sixty days. Now, we know that the
losers of these cattle have often excellent excuses
thew moved in" late last season; they had cabins to
build prairie to break up, and crops to get In they
were down with the ague, &C., &c.-but these DO not
suffice For if il were absolutely impossible for them
10 cut sufficient hay in August or knock up some KIND
Of log and straw shelter for their stock Ia November
they might at least have killed their beasts in the
Fall sailed the meat and saved the poor animals the
min of slow starvation. And ftwothirds OF Inc cattle
owners had known only enough to kill off one-third Of
their cattle last FAIL selling their hides and carcases
for hay and grain to feed to the remainder they would
have been far better off this Spring But they
l." guessed they would go through" with tun OF
coarse hay per head stacked out, and lot OF corn
stalks standing in the field and the result Is az we
see Shall there never be end to this cruel waste
Surely all who fell short this Spring can resolve to put
in third more fodder per head this year. or else to
keep over third less cattle An acre of roots got in
on rich, mellow, deep-powed, dry land, will give
product in Bees or Carrots worth at least ten tuns OF
hay next Winter, and perhaps double that. An acre
of Sorghum, well cured, will be of great help. Let
every farmer try an of Sowed Corn if he is not
sure be has fodder enough without. The past cannot
be recalled; but we enreat every man who keeps
single COW to resolve now that he will look out for
ample fodder in season and not suffer the teble ex'
perience Of the past Winter to warn him in vain