The National tribune., 1882-04-15

and a ton oft skillfully fed will make twenty
pounds live weight of beef, which, Mt five
and one-half cents, would be s1.10. The
manure might bring it up to $3.50 per ton
feeding value.
In view of the above showing, the claim
that ensilage is q nutritious feeding stuff is
simply preposterous. The conversion of a
small proportion of the carbonic hydrates
into alcohol may increase or diminish its
feeding value, but not to any appreciable
extent; whereas the aCetous and butyric fer
mentations will certainly impair it. In
practice, neither of these changes probably
amount to more than enough to give it a
smell, and their practical effect is about zero
As an appetizing vehicle for mere condensed
food, enslage doubtless has certain practi-
cal value, and it may also have not incon-
siderablevalue in preventing disease of sheep
and calves in hard winters from the long use
of dry food. To have some of it to open and
feed under such circumstances is doubtless
very desirable.
The estimated cost Of its production per
ton, as usually published, puts the whole
cost below what it will cost to load it on and
| pitch it from wagon on to the platform of
the cutter. Scarcely ever is anything charged
in the estimate for the use of the land, in
terest and taxes on which are bodily thrown
! into the credit of the ensilage. Nor is any
comparison instituted between the cost and
value of ensilage and the cost and value of
other crops which the land might produce
In view of all these things, it remains an
open question whether ensilage can be fed
to ordinary live stock at profit, or at loss
necessarily. 1t is better to 60 slow about
this thing.
WHAT MAKES CORN POP-Chemists who
have examined Indian corn, find that it con-
tains all the way from to II parts in 100,
by weight, of fat. BY proper means this fat
can be separated from the grain, and it is
then thick, pale oil. When oils are heated
sufficiently in closed vessels so that the air
cannot get to them, they are turned into gas.
which occupies many times the bulk the oil
did. When popcorn is gradually heated.
and made so hot that the oil inside of the
kernels turns to gas, this gas cannot escape
through the hull of the kernels. but when
the interior pressure gets strong enough it
bursts the grain, and the explosion is so
violent that it skaters it in the most curious
manner. The starch in the grain becomes
cooked, and takes up great deal more space
than it did before.
KILLING THE POTATO BEETLE.-It is |
stated that tar water sprinkled over potato |
plants will destroy the beetle as efTectualIy |
as an application of Paris green. A gallon |
Of gas tar is placed into barrel Of water: |
the whole is well stirred up, and then the |
tar is allowed to settle, and the water is an |
piled to the plants. This water is offensive |
TO most insects, and may be freely used with
out injury to plants or man.
FEEDING CATTLE.--Prof Brown. of On
tarlo, has been experimenting to ascertain
the comparative value of prepared and up-
prepared hay and roots in the fattenine of
cattle. The preparation Of the food con-
sisted in the pulping of the turnips and the
cutting of the hay into inch lengths Four
cattle were put up in each lot. The four fed
IN unprepared food-whOle turnips and un-
cut hay-gained every day during the 105
days of the experiment 1.76 pounds per head.
The four cattle fed on pulped turnips and
cut hay gained 210 pounds per day.
gUl1MER FEED.-The enlightened dairy
Ean Of to-day finds plenty of nutritious
grasses essential to the success of the dairy
business. His pasture is free from weeds.
rTisIs, and thistles, whose places are supplied
hy timothy, June grass, orchard grass, and
csover; and when dry weather makes grass
snort in the pastures he has oats grass. or
cornstalks TO cut and feed, and he often adds
D little meal and dry hay when the COWS are
put In the stalls for milking. Indeed. it is
thought by some of our most successful
fairymen that little dry hay is almost
Indispensable when cows are gorged with
food. Cows eat it with great relish
and it absOrbes some of the moisture which
must otherwise pass off through the excre- :
,Ory organs Not few believe little meal
aever amiss, rs it helps to keep up the rich
hess of the milk and the strength of the
animals. Salt should always be in reach, so
he cows can lick it at will. For cutting and
j.,
eeding early, to exc out short pastures, no
rass is considered better than orchard. 1t
hrives on q variety of soils, growing any, ,
where that Indian corn will, and it gets a +;
,ood growth early, and is ready for use t
Vhen wanted. If cut early, before even /
eaded, certainly before it blossoms, and f
roperly cured by piling it in cocks and t
Voiding exposure to the hot rays of the sun t
much az possible, it is none the less valu- II
DIE for extra feed or soiling The same
nay be said of cornStalks, which should not II
> cut before they are in blossom, and which !.
Aouiu De grown in drills, SO as to give access ~
the roots and stalks in the development 4
'he nutritious elements. No portion of T
ornstaik that is white because excluded =
'om air and sunshine is fit to eat,-M y n
aTnler and DairumGa.