The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1878-08-22
Take Care Of the Straw.

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production as hay, to refuse to utilize
them is certainly not the part of wis.,
dom; and that straw will not only
sometimes meet and satisfy a necessity,
but is relished by stock even when hay
is plenty, makes it plain that straw in
proper condition is valuable as an coca
sional substitute for hay. 1t can he
fed with mixed feed, either alone or
with hay, after having been steamed,
ard will be eaten with relish and profit
by stock. The expense of steamer,
however, may be an obstacle with
some, but, while we think this q very
desirable way of feeding straw, we are
dispensible. If good, clean, bright
straw is placed in the stock yard, it will
be observed often that cattle and sheep
will leave good hay to eat it, either be-
cause the system is in need of some
thing of that character, or that they
desire = change. At all events, they
eat it, and not only eat it. but do well
on it. This is especially true Of sheep.
If good straw is placed in the rack
sheep will eat it readily. carefully pick
ing it over for the grain remaining in
it, and showing very great liking for
parts of the straw. Sheep can be win
tered on good wheat straw, if the grain
has been harvested early enough and
properly, without any hay whatever.
We would not recommend anything Of
this kind, but we simply refer to the
fact, which has been fully established
by experience, to show that there is
real nutriment in what used to be con-
sjdered totally barren of nutritive quail
tiles. It would be valuable, however,
If it had nothing else to recommend it
than its value IS bedding, and would in
some degree take the place of food by
preserving the animal heat and adding
to the comfort Of the animal; and be-
side this, such . use would place it
where it would most readily be rotted
and converted into valuable manure.
This becomes secondary in import
ance, however, after it, actual value as
food has been established.
The proper way to look at this mat
ter is to consider that it is on hand, and
if it has any virtue, that the cost of
utilizing it is uncomfortable. II it cost
anything to procure straw, it would be
legitimate to compare its merits with
timothy or clover, but it does not.
There 10 the straw stack, and If it is
worthless, it might as wcl be burned
~ not; but not 80 if it is only
comparatively worthless. Comparative
signifies that it has something
Of value, moro or less, and
Whatever it has is 80 much abso-
lutte gain. II . stack of it will keep q
sheep for longer or shorter time, and
| it cost nothing to feed it to the sheep,
| it will thus be the means of saving 80
much hay, and to burn it is simply
throwing away 30 much money. II
cattle and sheep will eat it q portion OF
the time instead of eating hay, and
do we'll upon it, the cost Of getting il
into the yard 10 certainly we'll repaid.
Take care 81 the straw, therefore,
and by this is meant to preserve it as
carefully as you should your hay.
Stock will not eat straw that has been
exposed to the weather until it is
black any sooner than it will eat hay
that has been exposed until it is spoiled.
The straw needgto be kept bright and
sweet, and if kept in stack special at.
tention must be given to this matter.
II there is room in the barn for it, and
there often is on small farms, it had
better be kept there after ;'threshing.
To save trouble, it would be well in all
cases in which it can be done to stack
the grain near the stock yard, that al
threshings the straw will be there with
out additional carting.
In this connection It is proper to no
tice the worth of chat, and the usual
ea:elessness of preserving it. I'm
proved machinery makes the loss from
this source less than it formerly was.
but still the loss is considerable under
tho most favorable of circumstances,
and in many cases the straw-carrier is
not at hand. Suffice it to say that the
chaf is very valuable, and that stock
delight to pick it over and is pro6ted