Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-12-24
straw for stock,

With many Farmers, The impression
prevails that straw has DO value as food
for animals, and that therefore, it is far
better TO bc applied TO the soil as a fcrtili-
ger in the ordinary way, and used for lit
ter, or spread on the manure heap TO be
traddcH down and Incorporated with the
manure by the stock, as is generally done.
If we take the amount of grain and
Indian com raised in the United States, as
by the census of 1860, we shall find, by
allowing forty bushels of grain to the ton
Of straw OF corn fodder, that there were
about 500, 600 of tons Now, al least
OnC-third Of this is wasted for every pun
pose except manure and vast quantities,
not even used for that. Suppose VIC csli-
mate This at onc-half the value put upon
it by BIr Mech, or five dollars per ton,
and we have the enormous sum of $50,
600, 900 wasted FOR want OF proper econ
omy, in a single year. We believe hia
estimate much below the real loss.
Straw may be advaniagcOusly used as
a diyis0r Of cattle food For instance,
where root crops are raised and pulpUd,
and then mixed with finely cut straw,
there is no doubt The value OF TOot-pulp Is
greatly increased by the addition of the
cut straw, especially if The straw hss
been steamed OF sCaldCd before TIC ad-
mixture The additional advantage of
this method is, that The constituents Of the
straw are more readily assimilatcd by the
growing crops than without the assistance
of the digestive organs Of The animal.
Concentrated food is always benefited
bv the admiXtuTC Of cut straw with IT,
coat meal, corn meal, lnsccd cake, and
other grain, may be mixed with cut straw
until the nutTitiYC average Of the mass
viii be equal 10 that of the best hay or
grain. The advantage to the animal is
moi only in the division but in tho amount
of nutritious matter the straw may con
tain. Il may moi be much, but it is some
thing, and pTOperoCOnomy demands that
everything that can be should be turned
TO advantage. Where it is possible, there
fore, TO feed straw in the form above
named, there is no doubt that il will
prove more valuable TO the farmer than
when applied to the soil directly, or spread
over the manure heap and incorporated
with the dropping5 Of the cattle.
AAA1N AtAtle tllN NplAAA VI n lAlDADhls- u
examination by the farmers Of the whole
country Let them study their own in
lercsls. Many of them viii sec where
they have thrown away enough in ten
years to double their property. Let them
educate their sons for their calling. In
press upon their minds the necessity Of "a
thorough knowledge of all the processes
Of nature connected with the growth Of
plants, and their uses in sustaining the
animal economy. Impress them with a
| sense of the importance of their oCCUps-
ton, and of its true elevation in the scale
Of human affairs. Teach them that no
occupation OF profession in life requires
more accura'c or more thorough knowl-
| edge Teach them that no occupation
brings honor TO the individual, but The in
diyidual to The occupation. Above all,
teach them 60 shut their eyes to nothing,
to examine all things, and TO select that
which is good -dmcricon Nio0h Jo'T-