Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1878-08-21
THE FARM.

CowS WIICIl uIC giving AAiiA Shouiu NC
regularly fed with y suitable quantity
of Indian meal. The following are a
few of the reasons for this belief: Be-
cause it gives change of food. This is
very desirable. Such a change sharp
ems the appetite and improves the gen.
eral health. Because it lightens the Ia
Dor Of mastication and makes digestion
much easier than it would be if the
stomach was distended with more bulky
food. Because it greatly improves the
quality of the manure. Because the
cost of keeping is but very slightly in
creased. Four quarts of meal each day
for COW does not cost a great deal in
itself. AS already stated, feeding it will
confer several advantages. If there
were no other reasons than those given
above, It would pay well to feed a
moderate quantity of meal to milking
stock. But it should be kept in mind
that the cost of meal is not wholly to be
charged to the account for extra keep
ing, for when COWS have meal they will
eat o smaller quantity of hay. Thus
thehay which is saved by the change
will do considerable toward paying for
the meal. Because it invigorates and
tones up the system, enabling the ami
NAL better to resist sudden changes of
temperature, and in cold weather does
much to keep up the animal heat. Be
cause it will largely increase the guam
tity OF milk which is produced. Cows
which are moderately supplied with
meal give more milk per day, and milk
more days per year, than those which
are fed on hay alone. Be-
cause it furnishes cheap and reliable
method for improving the quality of
butter which is produced. The winter
butter which is produced on our farms
has obtained n greater reputation for
strength than it has for sweetness. The
mildest criticism which can justly be
passed upon much of this butter is that
it is deficient" in the principal quail
tiles which 60 to make up really good
article. The color reminds one of a
newly painted house, and the flavor is
decidedly poor. Now if the COWS are
decently good the addition to their ra-
tons Of hay provided the hay contains
no bitter weeds) Of few quarts Of meal
per day will make great difference in
the appearance of the butter. The color
will change from white to a shade
great deal nearer the color which but
ter ought to bear. The flavor will
also be wonderfully improved. Just
here is where Indian meal seems to be
the superior of many other articles of
food for cows which have been highly
recommended. Probably wheat Shorts"
make cows give as much milk as meal
can do. The same is true of some
other things. But it is very doubtful if
there is any kind of food in common
use which will give as perfect flavor to
butter as Indian meal.-Practicdl Far
mer.
Sailing STOCK.-One of the most i'm
portant things to attend to in the care
of farm stock of every kind is, that they
have access at all times to salt. In this
connection We would again call atten-
ton to the bad practice in vogue with
many other wise good farmers, in that
they salt irregularly, and at such times
with too liberal hand. Thus animals
will gorge themselves, and this often
results in severe purging. Again, when
salt is thrown about on the ground to
be licked up, the stronger animals get
more than they should, and the weaker
ones little or none. Besides this in
Jury to weak animals is often the result
of this struggle. The proper way to
salt stock is to have the salt placed I'M
der cover, where they may get it every
day if they wish. In this way they take
just what they want and no more, and,
while eating what is necessary for them,
they never take enough to do them in
Jury. Thus cattle will seldom take
more than an ordinary tablespoonful
per day, and this is about what they
require in summer as an aid to proper
digestion.
! QUALITY OF PoTAToEs.-The ca ting
qualities Of potatoes depends nearly
as much on the soil in which they are
raised as upon the variety. The follow
ing from the american Cukiydtor on the
subject will be read with interest:
"The soil acknowledged to be the
best for the potato is rich loan, sandy
and neither too wet or too dry. A cool,
moist soil will produce larger potatoes,
but the danger of too much wet that
warmer soil is preferable in this climate.
Early potatoes reach their maturity
sooner in quick, light soil. and present
a brighter and cleaner appearance than
when dug from that which is heavier.
A calcareous formation generally yields
sure crop. Old sod land, well turned
under in the fall, and lightly plowed
and narrowed in the spring, will pro-
duoe sound crop, and often very
large one. Clover sod is excellant for
this purpose, since it furnishes large
amount of vegetable substance to the
: | ground Whom turned ,1ndar Il, ,,n,,st