Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1870-02-09
FARM, GARDEN AND HOUSEHOLD.
Sfrnw FOR stock.

With many farmers, the impression pi e.
walls that straw has no value as food for
animals, and that therefore, 1t is far better
TO be applied to the soil as a fertilizer IN
the ordinary way, and used for litter, or
spread on the manure heap to be trodden
down and incorporated with the manure by
the stock as is generally done
If we take the amount of grain and lndl-
an corn raised in the United States, as by
the census of 1860, we shall find by allow
ing forty bushels of grain to the ton OF
straw or corn fodder, that there We're about
80, 900, 600 tons. Now, at least One-thlrd
of this is wasted for every purpose except
manure, and vast quantities not even used
for that. Suppose we estimate this at one
half the value put upon it by Mr.. Mechi,
or SIS per ton, and we have the enormous
sum of $50 000 600 wasted for want of
proper economy in single year. We be-
lieve this estimate much below the real
loss.
Straw may be advantageously used as a
| divisor of food. For instance, where root
crops are raised and pulped, and then mix
ed with finely cut straw there is no doubt
the value of root pulp is greatly increased
by the addition of the cut straw, especially
if the straw has been steamed or scalded
before the admixture The additional ad-
vantage OF This method is, that the con-
stituenrs Of the straw are more readily as
simulated by the growing crops, than with
out the assistance of the digestive organs of
| the animal.
Concentrated food is always benefited by
the admixture of cut straw with it. Goat
meal, corn meal, linseed cake, and other
gia ain, may be mixed with cut straw until
the nutritive average of the mass will be
equal to that Of the best hay or grain.
| The advantage to the animal is not only in
| the DIVISION but in the amount ot nutri-
tious matter the straw may contain. 1t
may not be much, but it is something and
proper economy demands that everything
that can be should be turned to advantage.
| Where it is possible, therefore, to feed
straw in the form above named, there is no
doubt that it will prove more valuable to
the farmer than when applied to the soil
directly, or spread over the manure heap,
and incorporated with the droppipgs of the
cattle.
These facts are worthy of thorough ex-
animation by the farmers of the whole coun-
! try. Let them study their own interests. -
Many of them will see where they have
/ thrown away enough in ten years to double
their property. Let them educate their
| SOILS for Their calling. Impress upon then
minds the necessity of thorough knowl-
! edge of all the processes of nature con
nected with the growth of plants, and their
! uses IN sustaining the animal ecOnomy.-
Impress them with a sense of the impor-
/ tance of their occupation, and its true ele-
vation in the scale of human affairs Teach
them that no occupation or profession IN
life requires more accurate or more thor
ough knowledge. Teach them that no
! occupation brings honor 10 the individual,
but the individual to the occupation.
Above all, teach them to shut their eyes to
nothing, to examine all things, and to select
/ that which is good.-St0ck Journal
Cheese Dafryine: Its Prospect.
Dairying is one of the great improve
ments of our soil, but even this may be
carried too far. There is danger Just now,
in view of the price of cheese and butter
Stock is up, (cows), and factories are going
up,-they are going up by the hundred this
| spring. The result will be not to cause a
demand, as the quality is not good enough.
but a glut of the market, lowering of the
price of cheese. This is as inevitable as
that the retention Of hOp-growing reduces
! the price of that article. Wool also affords
us an example Just now. The hop, how
ever, is the most ruinous, as grazing has
its benefit aside from the mere sale of its
! product-the soil Is enriched; but this is
| only an indirect benefit, requiring time and
! labor to get it from the soil, aud will do
well enough for those who have ample
meaus. But the majority think they can
not afford it. they want ready cash. And
this the present mania will not do satisfac-
tOrily; at least the very strong presump-
ton is that prices must come down.
especially cheese. for in England
people are not lying on their oars
They know the competition of their
American cousins; they know that these
cousins produce some good cheese which is
a successful competitor with theirs, and
that this American cheese (Which can be
manufactured cheaper than they can manu-
facture it) must be kept out of market or it
will overpower them. Their only hope now
is III the quality. If they can keep that up
beyond competition, their interest is safe
if not, If we equal them in quality, cheese
making ceases in England, and theincrease
of factories here-and may we not say es-
pecially in the west?-wIlI be sustained bv
good prices. But we are not making this
cheese, this highest quality, only to asmaIl
/ extent. There is, however, inquiry. The
subject is thoroughly agitated. We are
advancing. We are making better cheese
and more of it, the quantity, however ad-
vancing more than the quality. This
should not be. Will not our farmers heed
this heed this rather than rush into the
business2 Ii not we shall only suffer the
! consequences. Let each who designs en-
gaglng In cheese-making, see that he gets
the best he can, and thus establish d repu-
taton as well as secure good prices; for the
cost is little orno more, only care and lit
tie more labor Look to quality, aim at it,
secure it at all hazards. Then continuein
! the business.
Training Horses.
/ Colts ara left aOtira1v fOo 1oro naforo III an,