Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-12-20

DaiIp Kennfbsr Journal.
Apples for Mich Cows.

"A "otCSStct SVutitN, Na>S., CoiTeSpotu-
ent OF a leading agricultural journal. re-
ferring to the advisability of feeding ap-
Piles TO milch cows. relates the experience
of a neighbor in disposing Of surplus
stock of apples, for which he had no mar
ket. and which he could not make into
cider tor want of casks
In his dilemma he bethought to feed
them to his cattle. But local advice was
against it. Farmers told him apples were
worse than useless, they would dry up
COW. Were not worth six cents per
bushel, and laughed at the idea of feeding
them to cows as absurd and foolhardy.
But having mind of his own, having
graduated from a merchant to the farm
some years previously, he proposed in
vestigating for himself. Having file
of agricultural papers OF some twen-
ty volumes of one publication. he
overhauled these. and there found some
ten instances where reliable correspond
ents recorded their experience OF feeding
apples to iarm-stock with decided approx
al. The notion that apples lessen the
flow Of milk seemed to have no support
except from the occasional breaking of
bounds by cattle pent in the orchard. A
glut of apples by creature unused TO
them, may be as bad to the animal as a
glut of green corn or clover, and no more
so. Accordingly he commenced on
large old COW which was near going dry,
giving only four quarts per day, feeding
her in connection with her summer pasture
exclusively four quarts of hard Greening
and Baldwin apples, principally wind
falls, night and morning, the quantity be-
ing gradually increased, until at the end
of the week she was eating about one
bushel per day of the sourest and hardest
of these windialls; the effect was such
that her milk increased from four quarts
to six or rather more per day. Another
cow, in fresher milk, giving eight quarts
daily. was next tried.
At this time the cows had been running
in rowen feed several days, which would
probably make some difference in the
quantity of milk, yet upon top of this
better feed the second COW was brought
when upon her full feed, to regular
daily yield of ~ to IA quarts of milk.
His dairy consisted of five cows, all OF
which. except one. would have eaten
over bushel day could they have got
them that one was smaller one. though
good sized heifer. Half bushel was
found to be as much and sometimes more
than she could manage at one feeding
The average increase of milk upon the
five cows was fully so per cent,
and the warnings of his kind farmer
friends soon ceased to alarm the
family. The butter made from the milk
was first-class ''gilt edge" On being
inquired of particularly whether at any
time there had been the least symptom of
i'll effect on the cows, upon kidney or
bowel, the answer was Nothing of the
Sort" Here is an exact experiment so
far as possible, resulting triumphantly to
the aged experimenter TO the no small
amazement of his younger, but longer ex-
perienced on the farm, neighbors. Re-
member that the apples fed were hard.
sour windfalls mostly. not sweet and
mellow. and that the cows We're fed but
few at time, gradually increasing up to
a full feed.