Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-10-24

APPLES FOR cows.

A correspondent OF the Hartford Cour.
ant gives his authority for feeding apples
TO cows
He relates that Mr.. Erastus Ellsworth of
East Windsor finding there was likely to
be more apples in his neighborhood than
the cider mill could handle, ii it were in
running order, or barrels be found to
hold, bethought himself of feeding them
to his cattle. But local advice was
against it. Apples were worse than use
less, farmers said. They would dry up a
COW. Weren't worth SIX cents bushel.
and laughed at The idea of feeding them
to cows as ridiculous, absurd and tool.
hardy. But Mr.. Ellsworth was not de-
TERED by such means from investigating
for himself. He oyerhauled his files Of
the Albany Cultiyator, and there found
between ls4U and 1860. ten instances
where good and true correspondents of
that journal had recorded their experience
IN ieedng apples to farm stock with de-
eided approval. The popular notion that
apples lessen the TOW Of milk seemed to
have no support except from the OCCASION
al breaking of bounds by cattle pent from
the orchard. A glut Of apples from piles
gathered for the cider mill may be as dan
gerous TO an animal as glut of grain or
green clover, and no more so.
Accordingly, trial of the abundance
OF windialls, principally Greetings and
Baldwlns was commenced about August
|. In the manifold stomachs of a COW
these hard, sour apples, when bruised and
ground, become sweet and soft quite as
readily as in the vat Of cider mill. A
large cow. something along in years,
feeding exclusively in her summer pasture
and producing four wine quarts daily, was
used for the first experiment, beginning
with tour quarts oi apples night and morn
ing. The quantity w;~ increased, until
1T the end of a week she was eating q
bushel of the hardest, sourest windfall APP
pies each day. This COW was near her
time OF going dry, but such was the effect
OF the apples as to bring her produce OF
milk from four to rather more than six
quarts per diem.
Another COW, in iresher milk, yieldin.
eight quarts daily, was then put upon a
ration OF apples. At this time of meas
urement MIR. Ellsworth's cows had been
running several days in rowen feed, which
would naturally help flush the milk pail.
Yet upon this succuent pasture the Sec
ond COW was brought, when upon her full
ration of apples-a half bushel night and
morning--lo regular daily yield of
twelve TO fourteen quarts of milk.
All OF these cows, five in number-ex-
cepting one-would have eaten more ap-
pies If they could have got them. That
one was younger and smaller. though
good-Sized heiier. Half bushel was
found to be as many and sometimes more
Than she could manage at one feeding
hD any fr.,,, 81, III.
ly Tor more milk pans, and as the average
increase upon the five cows was fully tif-
ty per cent, and notorious matter in the
household, the warnings of ruin to Mr..
Ellsworth's dairy from kind-hearted neigh
bors soon ceased.
The butter made from this milk was
first rate, rs had an opportunity OF know
ing. inquired particularly whether at
any time there had been the least symp.
tom o! i'll effect upon the cows--upon the
bowels or kidneys. Nothing of the sort,
sir" And | cannot refrain from slight
eNultation here at this instance of the su.
pefior wisdom of former generation
1t has been somewhat fashionable to wish
TO die young Fast young men want TO
make a grand splurge and burst. I'm tired
OF such hot-bed irtit-the more disguised
with it after testing the mature excel]en-
ces OF the vigorous years in store for the
heedtul ones beyond the seventies. In
tact--where there is room for i'll slap
my thigh. whirl around upon one
toe. and give yell of triumph whenever
think OF this veteran of II good old gov
ernment stock-he told me he was eighty
three years od--coming gloriously to the
fore with these timely. painstaking and ex-
act experiments, while young farmers.
men who would not waste cents worth
if they knew it, are actually gathering ap-
pies from their fall seeding grounds. and
dumping them into holes in the street,
rather than risk giving them to their cat
tie.