Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-12-04
POOR HAY.

The farms in New England upon which
no poor hay is cut are few and far between.
We wish it were otherwise. But wishing
will not change the fact or improve the |
quality Of the hay. In spite Of our wishes,
the fact exists, aud the hay is already in the
barns. Our farmers have got it on their
hands. The question now is, what shall
they do with it2 From different men it re-
ceives various and conflicting answers.
One man feeds it to his young cattle.
He says it is good enough for them. He
must be philosopher in his way. Other
wise he would not for a moment imagine
that inferior food was suitable for young and
growing stock. Would he keep his children
on poor food because they were young and
not able to work ? Of course not Chill
dren need the most nutritious food So do
young animals of all kinds. An animal
that has attained its growth must get
enough nutriment from its food to repair the
waste Of the body or else it will grow poor.
The growing creature must not only do this,
but must, also, provide for growth and de-
velopment Young cattle can live on poor
hay So man could live on roots and
bark. But neither of them would present a
very plethoric appearance. The starvation
| plan is not profitable for either man or
beast. Some men feed the poor hay to
their cows, and it is astonishing how rapidly
the cows "dry up"
We have had compassion upon a dog,
when we have seen him try to eat dry and
meatless bone; and we have the same feel
ing for COWS which are fed on poor hay.
Sometimes the farmer feeds the poorest hay
first, and, when it is gone, gives a better
quality. 1t is better way to feed the poor
hay (if it must be fed at ALL once or twice
day, and give good hay the same number
Of times Fifty per cent of poor hay is
enough for any creature to eat in one day.
Other farmers give the low grades Of hay
10 their sheep. This is most miserable
policy. The man who follows this course
either has not learned the A b C's of sue
cessful sheep raising, or else he is making a
fearful sacrifice OF profit and pleasure
Sheep need good food. If they do not have
it, the wool will be light and Of uneven tex
ture; the sheep will be poor and liable to
be attacked by disease the lambs will be
small, weak and poor; and the whole flock
will present an appearance of in6rmity and
debility, which will put all hope of profit
forever out of mind, aud speedily convince
the owner that he has either failed in his
management, or else, that in the keeping of
sheep there is no reward.
Some feed poor hay to working oxen.
They have weak and feeble teams Their
oxen are slow and patient, and utter no CON-
plant. But they are walking advertise.
| 80 Al
J Here some one may accuse US of finding
fault with what folks are in the habit of do
J ing and at the same time neglecting to point
} out a better way. To them we will attend
at once. Almost every farmer has hay
cutter of some kind. If any one who reads
this has never bought or owned one, let him
consider whether there is any machine of
| which he is in greater need, and whether it
will not be for his interest to get one al
once. If he has feed cutter, by all means
let him use it. Cut the poor hay into pec.
es not more than two inches long. After
} cutting put it into tight box, throw half 6
} pail Of boiling water on about two bushels of
, the hay, mix it well with pitchfork so that
it will all get wet and then throw on and
mix in three or four quarts Of corn meal or
shorts. Give about bushel of this mix
ture to a COW, morning and evening, always
feeding it warm. If managed in this way
the poor hay may be used and some benefit
be obtained from it. Mixing with hot wa.
} ter steams it to some extent and makes it
palatablc, and the meal or shorts adds the
nutriment in which the hay alone is very de
/. fcient. 1t does not take great deal oI
time and is not very much work to cut and
feed the hay in this manner and there is
very little work done on farm which give:
better return than this.-NeW EnglaaC
Homestead.