The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1872-10-29
agricultural department.
CONDUCTED By ALBERT CHAPMAN
New York state Fair Discussions.
STRAW AND ITS VALUE.

STRAW AND iTs VALUE.
AT the meeting Of farmers in the Emira
Court House Oh "Wednesday evening, Oct.
2, Mr.. Van Duzer of Emira, read paper
on Straw aud its value of which the fol.
lowing is summary:
lie did not propose to recommend straw
alone as suitable food for stock, but
rather to discuss the relative value Of
straw aud grain together as compared
with good hay. We Americans did not
need, perhaps, to study such a subject as
carefully as European farmers, because.
ns a rule, we were not driven to practice
the same economies still it was import
ant to understand the bearing these qucs-
tions had OF profits aud savings. Cheese
is sometimes said to be a luxury here /;
yet two.tbirds Of the American product
is exported and used as food as substi-
tute for meats, because, relatively, it is
known to be cheaper. With us, and in
most new countries, grass is the almost
exclusive food for stock, but in Europe
necessity has compelled the people to use
other articles, ana their study OF the sub
ject has value which we may wisely
discuss
When hay is very cheap, straw can be
saved by careful stacking through series
of years. 1t IL most valuable, Of course
when hay is high and grain is cheap !;
then, by feeding grain, which is richer
than hay, with straw, which is poorer, we
can supply food which combines all the
requisites to animal heat and growth.
According to Morton's Cyclopedia, 100
lbs. of hay contain 81 lbs, Of nutriment
(rauking heat-producing and muscle-iorm-
ing materials as uutriment,) and p lbs.
OF nutriment are contained in 100 lbs Of
wheat straw 1t does not follow, how
ever that III eating 100 lbs Of straw, a
COW will get half as much nutriment as
from the hay, because OF the extra bulk
of innutritious matter to be disposed of.
But 100 lbs. Of wheat bran, according to
the same author, contains 81 lbs. Of nutri-
ment, and supposiDg that 20 lbs. Of hay
day would keep COW well, then 20
lbs. OF straw and 4 lbs, Of bran, would
of bran will measure about quarts and
at $50 per ION is worth cents; the 20
lbs Of hay are worth, at $40 per ton Is
cts.-so that VIC may reckon the straw at
IA cents without any loss. He had tried
this mixture of feed last winter, for six
weeks from Dec. Is. or rather 6 quarts
Of bran and straw ad HJitum, and with
the most satisfactory results. Afterwards
he ted one-third corn meal and two-thirds
bran, and four quarts of the mixture, and
continued it up to calviDg time with sue
cess. At such a time they ought to be
gaining in flesh, and he had never trouble
from abortion or the retention of the
nlacenta. The latter, be had observed
generally occurred where the cows are
allowed to fall away in the spring. At
such time, and especially as spring APP
proaches, their feed should be increased
somewhat; after eating their straw, it mad
been his practice to stimulate their appe-
titles by giving them a small allowance of
hay before giving grain. He thought it
would be as well, or better to cut the
straw, wet it, and mix grain with it,
rather than feed it dry as he had done
still extra or unpaying labor should be
avoided, and he had no faith that cutting
straw and then feeding it dry, as some
farmers did, would pay at all
AS to cooking straw, hay or coarse
fodder for cattle, he doubted its economy.
In published address Mr.. Il. w. Stew.
art had attributed great economy to sock.
Ing, out in an investigation made by tie
Elmira Farmers Club some time aro. n
committee sent out to visit three noted
diaries where steaming was practiced
found, on comparing fgrres with five
DIARIES where only raw food was used that
the results were against cooking, and this
IN case where the committee were pre-
disposed to favor the latter practice. Still
there were such variety Of circumstances
to be taken into account that he did not
consider this investigation as conclusive !;
but 1t did satisfy him and most members
OF their Climb that there was no profit in
cooking nice early mown hay. Bat
whether straw and grain were improved
by steaming or not, he still held that
bright uncooked wheat straw and grain
in amounts as he had indicated, were ex-
cellent for dry cows and he had touched
upon this subject Of cooking only because
Of its close connection with the profits of
feeding coarse fodder.
Straw for horses was preferred by
many horsemen to hay, even at the same
prices. There was less danger of over
feeding and they were in better condition
for travel. Still, for all stock, its value
depended partially on the season, being
the best in cold weather. 1t WIS great
folly to feed hay lavishly in winter, and
then as spring advances to put cows on
straw without grain Corn STALL aud
grain make good feed for late fan or
early winter straw aud grain during cold
weather when the cows are dry, and then
richer food again in late winter or spring,
until grass comes for them. The wise,
thoughtful farmer will make proper in-
ventory Of his stock and fodder in the
fall, and feed accordingly. He will also
avert the misfortune Of short hay crop
by growing plenty of fodder corn. la
the variety o. stock on most farms-cows