Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1878-09-13
The Feeding Value Of Wheat straw

\ short time since we had articles
from numerous contributors on the sub
jcct of utilizing straw, and the general
verdict was that much good will be done
by showing the value OF material which
is often permitted to waste. BY way OF
Strengthening this side of the question
we adduce the experience Of Kentucky
farmer, as related in he Rurai JV0rid.
He says: In the fall Of 1864 | had
about 40 head of mules, 80 head Of cat
tie, 10 head of sheep, and other stock
in proportion, to carry through the Win
ter, and had but little hay. Stock fod
der and corn could not be bought in
the eighborhood | became alarmed.
thinking of the slim chance Of keeping
them from starving through the Winter.
! could not sell them even at great
sacrifice. remembered some wheat
had and what | had been told Of the
great value Of wheat straw as a food. BY
one-when travelling in the cast in 1863
who has been feeding wheat straw ex-
clusively, as hay, FOR number Of years,
and selling his grass hay As Provi.
dencc would have it, I had Kicked the
Summer before, off Of about 100 acres
Of wheat, not to use as hayio had
been enormously Taught that it was
worthless because many hands
around the thresher were dl4, and
did not wish the straw thrown upon my
clover. | at once determined to try the
experiment. | built rail pen around
each straw rick, with barn shed at
tached. and pond of water in each lot.
put about % head Of mules in one. lot
aud about 30 head Of cutie in the other.
built pole rack all around each rick,
so as just to let the head enter and yet
prevent them from tramping on the
straw; gave each rick good drenchiug
Of strong salt water, all over, aud at the
sides aud ends, throwing it M under
the straw the best ! could | bid them
live or die, for it was the best / could
do. To my great surprise they ate he
straw greedily, and seemed to prefer is
to grass hay. The % head Of mules
and 35 head Of cattle were not out of
that 10, during the Winter, and lived
upon that rick of wheat straw entirely.
all Winter and Spring, except seven
bushels of corn, given all Of them one
very bad, snowy day, and two small
loads OF grass hay, during the Winter,
and one load of indifferent stock fodder,
given all of them, every two or three
weeks, as the opportunity presented
They came out late IN the Spring, in
about as good condition as mules and
cattle that had had n good supply of
corn, grass hay, stock fodder, etc., aud
well cared for during the same time.
Shortly after they were taken from the
lot sold them to drovcr at the same
price as those that had been Winterod
upon grain, hay, etc. The drover said
he could not discover any difference in
flesh, appearance, etc.
From that day to this have been n
great advocate of wheat straw hay, and
always will be. have my wheat straw
cut as green as possible, so as not to
shrivel the grain. This improves the
quality of the -four. have ricked or
stacked the greenest straw, sufficient to
feed all Of my stock abundantly through
the Winter, and. although | have timo-
thy, red top, or orchard grass and clover
hay cut, ! sell this, except the clover
hay, and feed the wheat straw to my
stock. sell the grass hay because it
will bring more n the market than
wheat straw. and not that il is moro val.
liable for food than grass hay --E,r.