The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-06-04
PROFITABLE FEEDING.
Not Enough Consideration Given 10 the
Value of the Manure from Fattening An

Not Enough Consideration Given DO the
Value of the Manure from Fattening An
fmals.
The value of the manure from fatten-
| iuo animal, is a matter less within the
positive knowledge OF the average farmer
than should be the case. The effect OF
different kinds of feed on the value OF
manure is also Il matter not so thor
oumtly appreciated as would be for the
advantage of farmers. Much of tine
! feeding, so far rs tn e value Of the ma
nure. is concerned. is at haphazard.
Farmers can generally give some idea
as to the best feed for the production OF
pork, beef and mutton. By the feed
ing OF so much corn. hay, oats or bar
lev they expect to make a certain guam
tity of meat. But how much the ma
nure from this will be worth is to many
an unsOlved and often an unthOught Of
problem.
The truth is that the value of the ma
nure from a tor of some kinds of feed
is much more certain quantity than
the weight of meat that it Will produce.
During the past winter, for example,
the manure heap will in some eases be
worth far more than anything else OBJ
tanned from the feed. 1t is possible &c
make this the fact nearly always, and
that, too, while giving kinds of feed
that are excellent for making fat and
flesh. We have lost much in this country
from our inattentiOn to this point, while
England has prOhted by the popular
ignorance prevailing in this and other
countries of the varieties of feed essen
tial to making the richest kinds of
manures. Many years ago Sir John b.
Lawes published tables showing the
comparative value of manures made
from ton of the various kinds of food
Linseed cake. and cottOn-seed cake stand
at the head of the list, and it is a note
worthy fact that for very many years
these oilcakes were the staple food fog
fattening beef cattle
In this country fully :hree-fourth5 OF
the food given to fattening, or othe
stock, is corn. It does not become U
to speak against corn. Growing ant
feeding it largely are evidences of i'm
proved farming. We rather exalt our
selves on the fact that farmers here can
gTOH COIH, lIlOSC III CdIA
not But, after all, corn is not among
the more valuable feeds for manure,
especially OF lands requiring phOs-
pilates. as most of our long cultivated
soils do. What has been called the
English farmer prejudice against feed
ing corn is possibly a recognition Of
this fae.. According to Mr. Lawes'
tables, based on values in England, the
manure from ton of Indian corn meal
can be worth only S6.65. That from
ton of linseed cake is worth Sl972,
from beans S15.6j, and from peas
Sl5.7j. The manure from a ton of
clover hay is worth 1856, while that
from coarse to fine wheat middlings
varies from S13.53 to Sl4.jO. These
figures are very suggestive They
show not only that many kinds of feed
have more value as manure than corn,
but that some of these are worth more
for the manure alone than the money
value of their cost. 1t is not uncom.
mon to have wheat bran selling very
near to what it is worth as manure even
in the East. At the West it can often
be purchased for so or 81 per ton ir
the fall 1t must be remembered that
the above figures are made in England,
yet the matter of comparative values il
equally applicable here.-N. Y. Herald,