The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1886-02-18

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familiar with the common methods of
feeding stock upon the farm will attempt
to deny the fact that much fodder is
every year wasted for want of economi-
cal management in this particular.
really think that third more stock
could be carried upon the amount OF
fodder that is annually consumed. AL
though positive waste, I do not think
the great proportion Of it occurs through
slovenly, slip shod ways, such as one
occasionally meets with in every farming
community. 1t occurs mainly through
lack of proper preparation of the fodder
that will enable animals to make the
most of it. The American farmer places
a very high estimate on his labor. The
raw material is of less Importance in his
estimation than labor. Such sentiment
and feeling is the natural result Of the
condition of things in this country. Our
great farms, handled by improTed ini'
plements, and too often without regard
to the future welfare of the soil, tend
directly to the above mentioned policy.
English farmers who inspect our methods
are amazed at our prodigality in the dis
position of raw material, and most
especially at the amount of fodder that
We feed out to our stock.
We ought certainly to take lesson
from our English cousins this winter.
Where can we best commence, for in
stance? Well, let US look about little;
Here arc big straw stacks and ricks o.
corn fodder standing about the yards,
while there il q vast amount of unoccu-
pied space under the barn roof. Surely
here is Waste that is almost universal
among American farmers. No doubt the
unthrcshed grain was stored in the barn.
and as it was threshed the straw stacked
outside, which might or might not have
been an unavoidable arrangement; bu'
Jus. as soon as space is made. in the barr
by the feeding out or settling of hay, OF
by the removal of the unthreshed grain
it should be promptly filled with such
rough folders as have been stacked ou'
of doors from temporary necessity.
"But," says some truly American far
mer, ~ always feed such coarse stuff in
the yard. We want something to feeo
in the yard, and it had better be thai
than good fine hay that can be fed con-
venienLly in the manger."
Now, this kind Of reasoning might dc
in ordinary times under our present sys
tenn of farming, but in times of scarcity
in fodder it is very faulty indeed. We
do not have to feed in the yard. YARD
feeding, as commonly practiced, is 8
most wasleful plan. The fodder will be
troddeu and thrown about so that c. M
paratively small portion really goes tt
the maintenance of the animals 80 fed
and that little is needed to keep up the
animal heat lost by exposure to the
weather while left all day in the yards
Stable feeding is by far the most eco
nomical. No waste can occur here if the
management is at all what it should be
or what it generally is among fairly gooc
farmers. Such coarse folders are 7Dcon
venient to feed in the manger, ] admit
if fed in a whole state. But in times O
scarcity they should not be so fed. i
will pay the farmer we'll to expend a little
labor here and cut such fodder into
fine condition, so that the stock will bt
able to eat it up almost clean. Corr
stalks especially are about doubled ii
value when so treated. If not cut up
but little more than the leaves and tas
sells will be eaten, leaving the long stem
that cannot be masticated without arti6
cial aid, to BIZ thrown out and wasted
Sprinkle little feed over this cnt'ul
fodder, and, if situated for it, steam th'
whole mass.
Increase the grain rations aud feee
less hay. Grain can be imported a
much less expense. Make the stables
warm and thus save another leak of fod
der. There is no use of feeding extra
rations to keep out cold. Boards ar
cheaper than hay this year.