Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1886-10-22
Feeding Experiments in Kansas.

Feeding Experiments in Kansas.
The London Give Stock Jour-
nar of September 10, after some
general remarks on the import
ance of experiments in the feeding
of live stock and the danger of
misconception and mistakes where
they are notjudicionsly conducted
has the following complimentary
reference to recent work In this
direction in one of our Western
States. Much misconception would
be avoided il the advocates of ex-
periments would adopt the views
and tone which we are glad to
notice in the report of the work
done at the Kansas State Agricul-
tural College by Mr.. E. NJ. Shell
ton. Prof. Shelton points out
that in his report he does not give
much attention to underlying
theories, or to the opinions which
reasonably enough might Be form
ed of the facts stated, in the belief
that the needs of practical agricul-
ture lie in the direction of the
multiplication of facts rather than
principles, and that opinions,
however we'll based, when acted
: upon under varying circumstances
are liable to mislead. "The facts
detailed WILL" says Prof. Shelton,
sbe likely 10 prove useful in just
SO far as they receive intelligent
applications as the circumstances
of farmers suggest. The unthlnk-
ing adoption of experimental facts
is as much to be deprecated as
their thoughtless rejection. Cir
cumstances of soil, climate, loca-
ton and markets may give to ex-
detrimental facts great value, or
make them worthless. Expert
ments at the most cannot be more
than suggestively useful; the ex-
perimenter may furnish facts fol-
the farm, but he cannot do the
farmers thinking. The obvious
inference from all this is that in a
very considerable degree every far
mer must be an experimental
truth having especial application
in new countries having
no historical agriculture"
There are four simple expert
ments recorded by Prof. Shelton
connected with the feeding of stock
and we may epitomize the results.
In the first, the object was to try
the comparative results in beef
making of clear Indian corn meal
made by grinding the corn with
the supporting cob. The decision
is given in favor of corn and cob
meal, but the want of a machine
to economically reduce the ear
corn to the condition of a fine meal
induces the use of clear corn meal
as food for stock. The suggestion
therefore, given by this expert
ment, is one to stimulate the man.
ufacturers to produce a satisfacto.
ry machine. In an experiment
between cooked and raw corn as
food for fattening pigs, the result
was to show that the gain per hun
dred weight of pigs was greatly
less in the case of the fattening
animals receiving cooked food thar
with those fed on raw food. 1t il
however, admitted that will
younger animals, whose gain woule
be made chiefly in growth, the
cooked food might give differen
results than when the pigs are pu
up for fattening. An attempt te
feed eight young pigs on an acre
and half of meadow, comprising
one-fourth of an acre of alfalfa, thu
remainder being orchard grass
failed completely, and the loss O
weight was SO great that grain
had to be added, when the animal.
soon commenced to put on flesh
The other experiment was in tn
use of warm and cold drinking
water for mich COWS. When warn
water was the drink of the COWS,
marked increase in the flow O
milk was recorded, this increas
amounting to IA and even Is pc
cent, showing that the warm wat
er was always beneficial.
The results of these expert
ments are reproduced not becaus
it is supposed they are of yer,
remarkable character. Yet tn
whole of them convey lessons O
some Importance; and becaus
similar inquiries could easily b
conducted by every intelligen
breeder and feeder, we bring tn
the subject before our readers.