Eaton weekly Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1866-1875, 1871-02-09
Cutting the Fodder and steaming Food.

aF a.M ITWA LE-N ~ Ebfan
Cutting the Fodder and Steaming Food.
Our own practice in preparing feed
for thirty head of stock,.one half being
horses,.is to cut thee fodder, straw,
meadow-hay, if we have any; eornstalks,
and best hay. This is cut by a horse
power standing on the barn floor. This
occupies from one, to two hours twice a
week, to cut enough for the thirty head
of stock. i.i, 51
A portion of this mass, kenough for
feeding t~wentyfour hours, is spreadupon
the barn floor, sprinkled with water, a
very little salt, and strewed with such
grain as is, used; this is principally
shorts. The heap stands twelve hours,
is then thoroughly turned owe and re-
mains twelve hours more, when it is
ready to be fed out. If the barn in which
the heap is made'is a moderately warm
one, all 7thefodder will by this time be
impreghated with the taste of the grain
and the aroma of the good hay. It will
also be softened, SO as to be easily masti-
Gated by the animals, and they will eat
the whole with great relish. nOr, IF any
be- left, 1t will only be joints, of corn
stalks, which are, not softened, or some
coarse plants of woody fibre. A heap
thus prepared should always be kept on
hand, SO that each heap may stand at
least t~wenty-four hours. aT.-.-r afeIb-r
These details may seem to require a
slow, .irksome, and somewhat expensive
process as to the time required But they
will not be found so in practice when
the system-forit must be q system-is
once fairly established. The horse power
and cutter will be somewhat expensive
to start with, but with good care, both
will last for many years. When thirty
or forty head of stock are to be fed, we
have o idoubt the cost of both would be
saved by their use in two or three years.
If the stock consists of ten OR fifteen,
head only, a good hand hay cutter will
answed the purpose, and the horse pow
er may be dispensed with. HD
In our winters there are many days
too Indictment for outdoor labor, and
these may be occupied in the barn in
cutting the fodder and storing it away
in empty spaces for use when mild
weather calls the help into field or
271i( srgf99g..3as4 ayf-ra~
An ample experience for many years
convinces us that stock can be kept
cheaper to more than pay
the cost of labor in preparing the
and that it will perform
more labor, produce more milk, or
gain more in growth, than it cvill if
fed on coarse food. An experiment
with twelve mich cows through an
winter, gave us the most graft
fying results. The cows yielded more |
kept in good condition, and at
one-fourth less cost than when fed
IN the usual way. Horses thrive as we'll
as neat stock under such feeding.
In order to work on this system, the
barn must be sufficiently warm to, pref
vent the heap that is mixed up from
freezing; and this ought to be secured in
my case, as an economical measure in
the care of the cattle. An old sail cloth,
cs st-off wooden blankets or any similar
material, thrown over the heap, will
tend to prevent freezing. iTts-
Another plan, and one that is gaining
in popularity, is that of. ~.
STEAMING roo FOR STOCK.
This process will cost much more for
,he fixtures necessary to be used, and
will require much more exact care than
and soaking the fodder. This
are, however, will make every pound of
God tell with the fullest effect in the
of meat, milk, or strength.
We have visited several farms where the
of steaming is adopted, found
he system approved, and the stock
well. The product of milk sin
the COWS was very considerab ly increas-
sd /; the horses were sleek and strong,
the young cattle with soft, loose
and having every way a thrifty
lppearance.-Ne,0 England Farmer.
The extravaganza tendency of the
present generation suggests to a clergy
the inquiry whether it would not
De better to devote half of ones ener-
yies to learning to live on a very small