The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1876-05-04
=. g. -
Extra Food for Stock In Summer.

= Coop pasturage for all kinds Of farm
stock except WORKING horses Of oxen is
usually considered sufficient to insure
health and increase of flesh. But in our
interchangeable and naturally rather dry
climate it is seldom safe to depend wholly
upon the pasture for summer feed, because
severe droughts frequently occur which
check the growth of even the most vigor-
Gus of what are termed pasture grasses,
aid the result is that stock suffer more or
less for the want of food. The flow of
milk often shrinks one half or more dur.
ing dry August or September, and ami
mails intended for the shambles fare no
better, all Of which is a direct loss~tosthe
owner, not to speak of the sutierings of
halt-starved stock.
We may say, however, that this state of
things is far less general than formerly;
and at the present time our best dairymen
and sstock -raisers put less confidence in
the natural yield of their pastures than
they did few years ago. But there are
provisions against a short supply Of feed
during. the simmer months, and trust to
luck and favorable weather, which, tossay
the least, is not a system of farming TO be
commended. q Ia st = "a 49,
Men usually take out policy of insur.
ance to guard !aEainst losses through acct
dents, and the same principle should
prompt the agriculturist to provide his
stock with an abundance of food in times
of scarcity, which are likely to occur at
all seasons. In cold climates the farmer
habitually lays up a store of food for win
ter use, and no doubt the ma ority think
this is sufficient tax upon their energies;
but it is not, if more sustenance is neces-
sary. The enterprising business man is
expected to be equal to any emergency,
and if he is not, failure is sure to follow
sooner or later. This is the view which
our most enterprising farmers take of this
question, and the wisdom of distrusting
the uniformity of the seasons is shown by
their success. T
We find them starting out in the spring
with the idea that their pastures may dry
up in July or August, so that their stock
wil have to be- put on short rations, un-
less some other provision for food is made.
Therefore, corn is sown in drills for the
purpose Of being cut up for summer tod
der.a sMillet is also sowns for the same pur-'
pose, and if neither are wanted, then both
can 20 over TO- swell the amount of fod.
der for use in winter Some even go much
further than this, and provide against early
spring droughts and short feed, by sowing
rye in the fall and oats in spring, for cut
ting up and feeding green to their stock.
II these crops are not needed for this pur-
pose, they can be let alone and harvested
in the usual manner when the grain is
mature. tits now time fOr, our Northern
farmers to act in this matter, and while we
know that thousands are preparing for
sowing corn and millet for fodder in sum-
mer, if needed, there are other thousands
who have never made any provisions Of
this kind for their stock. AJ
After making preparations for a supply
of green fodder, should itsbe needed in
summer. it is well to grow q quantity Of
Iptsf aE.wintef use Carrotss spsa lets,
mangOlds and turnips, are the Kind
mainly cultivated for this purpose: IAN
acre Of roots will usually yield more nutri-
tious food than two y5or three in grain or
hay; beside, when fed in connection with
dry forage, they promote the health of the
stock. Half the diseases which make
stock would be unkn own if roots of various
months. Beets and carrots should be put
inseariy, ore before the weather becomes
dry and hot. Turnips Of various sorts
may be sown later, and usually upon land
&avhiol lsns SEop has 1en rseenlly
gathered. IF the soil is not fich it Should
be made 50 by liberal application of some
kind of fertilizer, tor it is idle to spend
time and seed where other conditions rem.
der good return uncertain.4 A little fore
thought and calculation in such matters
frequently make farming a success where
it would otherwise be failure.-N. r:
Sun. ~, g. i4'tr-g .as biz $50. s.y4 ~ :.