Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-01-05
91rirultural.


A correspondent of the Country Gentle
man endeavors to convince us that our time
can be better employed than in cutting straw
for feeding. 1t is true that cutting straw by
hand.power, for even a small stock, is not
quite as pleasant as sitting in a cozy corner
with our favorite publications, fresh from
the press, and with the consciousness that
our horses, cattle and sheep are quite as we'll
served with long fodder. But 20 in for the
comforts all round, and am so great be-
lever in the economy and utility of cutting
all our coarse fodder, not only for feeding,
but for bedding in the yard and in the stable,
that have urged some of our geniuses to
attach to the tail of a thrashing- machine a
contrivance to cut every particle of straw
into half three-fourths or inch-pieces, as
fast as it passes from the machine. It is
presumed by many with whom / have con-
versed, that a ten-horse power would
scarcely receive a check from this additional
work. T..4 ....
"What should we do with so much cut
strawT' First decide that it is practicable
and profitable, and we shall soon find ways
and means TO take care it. Elevators may
be arranged TO deposit italmost any where
about the premises A monstrous box may
be constructed, well rooted over, TO occupy
The position your stTaw-stack now occupies,
if it be decided that is the place for it.
Around this great box, or house, if you
please, feeding boxes may be constructed
with gate or valve over each, to let out the
fodder in just such quantity as may be de-
sired. A lean-to roof with stanchions all
around, serving for both shed and stable,
might also be added. But admitting our
cattle are none the better served with cut
fodder, it is clear that less will be wasted.
1t is also clear that the waste fodder will not
come up next Spring with "long pull and
a strong pull" out of the manure heap. 1t
IA oil hof 10 ,NlO 1or
use as top dressing, the manure from such
barn yard would be vastly more valuable
than long straw and cOrnstalks not half
rotted
The groom or hostler will at once see the
convenience and economy of cut straw for
bedding, as only that portion in the imme-
diate vicinity of the dToppings, need be re-
moved with the manure; whereas the long
straw would nearly all require to be re-
placed with new every day. A great many
advantages of a system of wholesale straw
cutting will appear after its adoption, which
we can not at first call to mind.
Now is al good time to talk up this matter.
both among farmers and editors, and if the
thing is practicable, let us try it on as soon
as next harvest. If the expense is not more
than one, cent on each bushel OF grain
thrashed-say $40 for cutting the straw of
1000 bushels of grain--it will afford us time
to read and study at cheap rate.
The PROPER CHOICE OF CATTLE.-Speakipr
OF purchasing cattle for beet, work or miIS,
New England farmer, well posted on all
points Of cattle husbandry, says, "that they
should be what is called good handlers, is a
point never TO be overlooked" This is de-
fined as equivalent to the possession of "a
moderately thick, mellow, elastic skin" The
writer adds:
"a good handler will invariably be~in
oNA g..
kindly and fat rapidly. This mellowness of
skin IS due to the proper condition of the
cellular tissue. The cells of this tissue are
filled with fluid, and when pressed upon by
the fingers, yield to the adjoining cells which
Immediately return it when the pressure is
taken of, giving ar elastic feel or touch to
the skin. The cellular tissue is the recep-
tacle for fat The more abundantiy it exists,
the better an animal will handle, and the
more fat will be formed. Small ears, quick
and sensible to every new sound, small bones
and thick, fine, soft hair, are all indications
of aptitude TO fatten. Cattle of a general
coarse appearance, exhibiting want of cell
lular tissue, or those which are bad handlers,
will be found to possess large ears, coarse,
wiry hair, and large bones, and will prove
slow feeders"
BIoDE OF FEEDING HoRsEs.-We usually,
says the Ohio Former, feed our horses too
much that is, the food is disprOportioned to
the labor they perform. We speak more
particularly of our best hOrses-fancy ami
mas, that stand in warm stables blanketed
and taken out only occasionally for exhibit
ton rather than use. To keep horse or
other animal healthy, the carbon taken into
the sy stem in food must be proportioRed to
the oxygen taken in by respiration. Thus
man of sedentary habits, seated day after day
in warm room where there is little oxygen,
can live on mush and milk, little toast, or
other light food; while the same man, in the
Arctic regions would swallow whale blub-
beT with impunity. The excess of oxygen in
the Arctic atmosphere requires an excess of
carbon, otherwise an excess of oxygen would
consume the lungs, and produce pulmonary
disease. If the food Tor carbon) exceeds its
due proportion, or is dispropOrtioned TO the
oxygen, il is unccnsumed, and is stored
away in the form OF fat, which induces acute
disease and premature death. Now, fancy
horse, that has little exercise, standing ia a
BaTm stable, blanketed, with little circula-
tion OF aiT, and consequently little oxygen,
gOrging himself at full crib from day to day
requires an excess Of carbon; his muscles
are overloaded with fat--he becomes stupid
and sluggish, and very liable to acute disease.
RIoH SOIL AND Coon STooK-Maaner of
ProegiRg.-We clip the following from a
communication in the Homestsdd, as worth
a few minutes thought from the reading
farmer; 10
In distributing manure, it is economical to
give liberal dressing as far as we go. We
must 60 through with the labor of cultiva-
ton, and il costs no more 10 plant or hoe a
field Of POTATOES that will yield heavily, than
one which win give poor returns; the only
additional expense is the extra cost Of har-
Vesting. The same is true in the culture of
UUa al IA Inv
more stock for our farms as fast as we can
End means for sustaining il; but what class
of stock il is best to buy Is less often dis
eussed. In this, too, it may be safely as
serted that the proper course is TO buy good
stock. IL costs no more 70 raise and keep
good catte than pocr; and men who bay in
the market always make a very great dis
tincton between good and pSor animals.
The same rule applies in dairying and wood
growing good COWS and sheep are profitable;
poor n.llAs4s and light heeced sheep eat up