The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1886-07-29
FARM MANAGEMENT.
Interesting Experiments in Fat.
tening Animals at the Kansas
Agricultural College.
Planting Trees that Will Ornament
Grounds and Produce an Album
dance of Fruit.
some Farm Experiments.


from experiments made on farm than
from those performed in well-ar-
ranged laboratory. In the latter place
the experimenter can carry on his
work without regard to the state of the
weather. He is protected by walls and
roof, and he can regulate the tenn
perature of the room as he chooses.
On the farm, however, the person con-
Quoting experiments is at the mercy of
the elements. The temperature of the
air and soil is liable to change at any
moment. The soil may he too wet or
too dry to insure the quick termination
Of seeds, the vigorous growth of plants.
or the proper ripening of grains and
fruits. The growth of all plants is
liable to be affected by disease and in
sects. as we'll as unfavorable conditions
of the atmosphere. The number of con-
experiment with animals and fowls in
stead of plants, as they are more sus-
ceptible to various influences. They
are liable to most of the diseases that
afflict mankind. They are dependent
on plants for their food, and their con-
dition, health, and growth will largely
depend on the state on the plants on
which they feed.
What are usually classed as agricult-
ural experiments amount to very little
in determining general facts. They
simply give the results of certain trials
made under peculiar circumstances. If
the results are good we are generally
safe in arriving at the conclusion that
all the conditions were favorable to
success. We are not safe, however, in
adopting the plan pursued by the ex-
perimentor in all parts of the country
on different soil than that worked by
him, or in locality where the climate
is essentially different. In short, we
have no great assurance that we shall
have the same success that he had if
our soil is similar and the climate near
ly the same. A mode of planting and
system of cultivation that produce
excellent results one season may fail
the next year on account of the marked
difference in the temperature or amount
of rainfall. The level culture of corn
and potatoes may give excellent results
in very dry season, but repeated dur
ing wet year it might result in CON-
plete failure. Farmers who crush into
print" after they have raised fine
crop of anything often do much injury,
as many think that they can certainly
secure like results by following the
same course during any season and on
any sort of land.
Prof. E. M. Shelton, of the Kansas
Agricultural college, has made during
the past few years some interesting and
valuable experiments on the farm at
the college, located at Manhattan, the
results Of which have been published
in an official report. One of them was
made with view of determining the re-
latiye value of common corn-meal and
of corn-and-cob meal for making feed.
Ten steers, ~ years past, were select
cd for the experiment. They were
divided into two lots, allowed the same
fodder rations, kept in the same barn.
watered from the same trough, tended
by the same men, and were feed regu-
larly for period of $50 days. The first
lot were fed, besides their fodder ro-
tation, kept corn-and-cob meal exclu-
sively, and the second lot common corn
meal. Each animal was weighed every
ten days, and accurate account kept of
the food consumed, and the gain of
weight during the time the experiment
lasted. The average gain of the first
lot was 1872 per cent. per hundred
weight, while the average gain of the
second lot was 1879. The actual and
average gain of steer in the first lot
was 2O5 pounds. and in the second lot
| 217 pounds. The average daily gain
of steer in the first lot was LA
| pounds, and of one in the second lot
was 1.36 pounds.
Another experiment was made with
a view of determining the value OF
cooking unground corn to be used
in fattening pigs. Ten yearling pigs
was selected for this experiment and di-
yided into two lots. These pigs were
fed twice daily with general regularity
at A. M. and 4 P. M. All were
weighed at the end of each ten days,
and careful record made of all
weighings. The pigs occupying pens l
to 5, inclusive, were fed cooked shelled
corn, those in pens to 10 received raw
shelled corp, as much in BOTH series be-
ing fed as was consumed without waste.
The figures for cooked corn refer to the
weight of the corn before cooking. The
corn was weighed before cooking and
after, and the proportion of water alb
sorbed in the cooking process subtract
ed in the case of every feed of every
pig. The comparisons, therefore,
wherever made are of cooked corn,
weighed before it was cooked, with raw
corn simply. In cooking, no set rule
was followed except that the corn was
so thoroughly acted upon by the heat
that each grain might easily be crushed
between the thumb and finger. The
cooking was done in an ordinary bar
rel, which was connected with steam
boiler by half-inch steam pipe which
supplyed the barrel with steam at 8
boiler pressure varying from thirty to
sixty pounds to the square inch. Water
directly from the well was given daily
to each pig, as was required. Almost
from the first considerable practical
difficulty was experienced in feeding the
cooked corn. but one which of course
would be felt in feeding any form Of
soft feed; during very cold weather, p
which much was experienced, the soft
mushy, cooked corn, unless consumed
as soon as placed in the trough, would
freeze solidly, entailing considerable
waste at times. This difficulty was ag-
gravated by the well-known fact thai
fulfilled pigs eat slowly in times of Sc.
we're cold. On this account it was
found occasionally necessary to substi
tute a small feed of raw corn for the
regular ration Of cooked corn; but it il
believed that this was not done otter
enough to effect the '.totals and aver
ages" obtained in this experiment. :
The pigs fed On cooked corn ate g.,
s95 pounds and gained $40 pounds
making an average gain of l04 pound.
-"~h. Those fed an Paw corn etc B,Sll
49, ~s,ned COS mounds, being
pounds anu "a. In com
an average Of 15l poull4,.
menting on this experiment Prof. Shell
ton SAYS: "Some of the difficulties en-
countered in the prosecution Of this ex
pertinent have already been referred to
The cold weather which prevailed dur
ing the last four weeks of trial furnish