Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1873-09-11

Let US hoe thoroughly all the season
until the crops are perfected, and while
engaged in the work observe and discuss
the benefits We may derive from IT.
N. f.. Farmer.
The CrOps-A Forecast Tor WlntcrimS
U,sr Stock.
F. G. writes as follows to the Coun-
try Gentleman:
The hay crop is short. Hay is high
in market, and will probably be higher.
There is Il bad prospect ahead for
dairymen; yet this need not he to the
extent it is, for there are resources
tllnt eau be worked up to advantage.
We still have our straw and our corn
stalks, and there is cheap corn which
the West in its abundance is offering
us. Corn, however, is not the thing
for the dairy; it is only Il help with
other things. TO feed much corn to
n,llcl, cows is, in general, to lessen the
milk, heat tho system, and to take on
fat-iust what Is not wanted for tho
dairy. Straw cut or steamed, and a
little corn added, will keep a dairy
through the winter in fair condition;
better if one feed day is of good hay,
or what is preferable, early cut clover.
And now will farmers consider what
they have long been Taught, but what
they little needed, namely: will they
secure their straw in better: condition.
They have it to do, and it is almost of
incalculablc benefit, now when hay IS
SO scarce, both the present growth and
old hay. Can they afford to feed hay
mt thirty or forty dollars ton9 Per-
haps, if the right kind of hay but
there will be little of this in this Sec
ton, as it has already Gully y passed
the period when it should have been
secured. But the straw of our grains
can be saved and made highly avail
able. Cut when the berry is in the
dough, rs when It has just cached that
state the stalk will yet be comparative
~ green, and it's substance much more
available than when cut ripe There
is considerable substance in such hay
for it really is hay-and, as have
said, it is available to stock.
The grain cut in this condition may
be all saved; there will be no Smelling
from over ripeness; the crop will be
less lodged and stand more even; it
will, in word, harvest the better.
Let it be tied in small sheaves put in
stocks, capped with sheaf in the
usual way to ward off the rain. I find
the best curing done when there is a
little air permitted to circulate among
the sheaves. In forming the stock, do
not, therefore, make it too compact.
Bind and put up as soon as cut, but in
no case when there is the least dew or
rain on.
When cured the straw will come out
a fine, pale green, and fragrant; the
berry will be plump and bright. Such
straw will be fair feed if fed twice a
day, with little corn meal once day.
and one feed of good hay. 1t is all that
is needed to winter cattle and horses,
hard working horses excepted, which
need oats in addition. Where hay is
quite scarce and horses claim it, mich
COWS may be wintered on this straw
and meal alone, q few quarts of meal
for q day, more if the condition and
size of the animals require it. This is
a cheap feed. If the straw is the usual
straw, ripe, there is but little available
substance in it, and much feed must be
fed. Save the nutriment of the straw
by early harvesting, especially as il
also improves the berry and has q
cleaner and earlier harvest.
Cornstalks are probably of still more
benefit. Although they are as hay with
the grains, yet they seem to contain
more substance, or at least more that
is available, and are better relished
only, however, when cured the same a.
straw. Cut when the corn is glazed
and put in stocks, as with the grain
If the fall is favorable one, long anc
dry, the stalk will be so well cured tha
it may be put in considerable bulk, i
not packed too close. Otherwise, i
the season is rather moist, it must b,
more distributed or it will spoil. Some
of our best dairymen feed the Who'll,
stalk Others pass it through cutter
There seems to be but little difference
There will be but little left if fed il
small quantities. OF course, in such 1
case it would be done oftener. Th.
way is, as we have noted with the
greatest satisfaction, to divide a feed
Give half the feed some half an hou
before the regular time; and then
when consumed, give the rest. Thu
there will DO little or nothing left tx
breathe over. We presume this Womb
apply to straw or hay as we'll. Where
there is a root crop or fodder-corn, O
course so much the better.
Meadows having a crop removed, ant
the second started, if not plaster ed
should have it done at once-on,
busbel per acre. This should In n,
way be neglected, if the meadow is O
l clover A second crop may thus b.
: pushed for cutting. Farmers have i
thus in their power, notwithstandin,
the discouraeing prospects Of the la,
7 crop, to carry their stock with little o
, no increase or expense. But if the,
, dc not avail themselves of their oppor
tunity, it will be an expensive ii no
t almost impossible thing to winter thei
stock. In many cases it will doubles
be ruinous. Remember, the stock i
not only to be wintered, it is to b,
winterel wei, or the season that follow
: will show q falling off in the income
We have had an inkliDg-just al
, inkling of this-the present season
Let us take warning in time.