Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1875-06-04
SOiling Cattle.

On this subject the NeD England
Farmer has the following remarks:
On our own farm soiling has been
practiced quite extensively for more
than twenty-five years. AT first we were
not inclined to recommend the practice
to farmers in general, but only to those
who might, like ourselves, be located
where good pastures all the summer long
are entirely out of the question; but, as
our reading and observation have been
extended, we are inclined to believe that
partial soiling, at least, is practice that
might well be adopted on nearly, or quite
all, dairy farms.
Feeding green food to cattle in their
stalls in summer was formerly consid-
cred advisable only in villages or near
cities where grazing lands were held at
prices too high for ordinary farming pur-
poses, and those writer's who treated the
subject through the newspaper press al.
most Invariably spoke disparagingly of
the soiling system, except under such
circumstances as we have named. On
comparatively cheap lands, away from
the cities, and especially at the West, it
was believed that the expenses OF soiIing
cows would always far exceed the adj
vantages which might accrue.
But within the past few wears, since
the dairy interest has assumed such an
important position among the agricult-
ural industries of our country, it has
been discovered by hundreds of enter
/ prising farmers in all the Northern and
| Western States that feeding COWS at the
stall during portions of the summer sea
son, for the purpose of keeping up a reg
ular and uniform flow of milk, is not
only commendable, but almost an in
dlspensablc, practice. During the past
! year we have seen urgent appeals from
leading Western dairymen TO the farm
ers of Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota
and other far Western States to raise
! special forage crops for feeding to COWS
in summer, and we no longer feel diff
dent about urging farmers everywhere to
practice this system of summer feeding
to such an extent as each may find prof
liable in his own particular case.
Spring rye, if sowed very thick, say
Tour bushels to the acre, and cut as soon
as 1t begins to blossom or little be
fore, will, if well cured, make hay that
VIII be eaten by horses in winter with &
fair relish, but we should not recon
mend its use on large scale for cows il
milk, without further trial. We raised
a field OF ii last year and intend to re
pNNV biiS experiment tulo SClSOu, ulInOuSI
it was not fully successful last year as
substitute for hay for cows. 1t probably
stood little too late. What is true oi
spring rye is equally true of the winEtl
variety. Both make excellent greer
feed for cows if cut early enough, but
they are in perfect condition but {
short time. We consider both indis
pensable on all farms where soiling il
1 carried on, or where one wishes to keel
a heavy stock of cattle in proportion t
the number of acres. We should no
mix oats and rye together, as they do no
ripen at the same time. The spring Ty,
will be several days earlier than the oats
and if allowed TO stand till the oats wer'
grown would be almost or quite worth
less as feed. Better sow them separately
and cut of each what will be needed 70
feeding grain, and cure the remainder u
the right time for winter fodder.
Oats, we think, will be liked rathe
better by your cattle than rye, although
much depends upon the age at whicl
they are cut, and the quantity of seed Il
the acre. The finer the fodder othe
things being equal, the better IL will be
and the earlier II is cut the better it will
be, II IL has nearly reached its full heigh
and is thoroughly cured.