The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-12-20
OUR RURAL TOPICS.
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers
sILAGE FOR SHEEP.


When slage has been used for in-Iamb or
sucking ewes, it appears to have given the
greatest satisfaction. We believe, in fact, that
there is no better or healthier food for ewes
than good silage, of the sweet, green kind. The
following account of a trial with the feeding of
some lamb hogs during the Winter of 1885, SO
will fairly exemplify the value of silage for this
purpose. Toward the end of December % of
the worst lamb hogs out of lot of so were put
on a grass run Of II acres, and given sweet
clover and yetch silage al Hb The other %
had q grass run Of % acres and were given
cabbage and turnips. Both lots were sold at
the same time in the Spring, when those fed on
silage made more money by one shilling apiece
than the others. good deal of evidence was
given before the Ensiage Commission with
reference to the value of siIage for sheep. Mr..
Batemau, for example, said that the effect on
the ewes was much more decided than ON the
milking COWS. He had just testified that his
cows gave pound of butter per COW more on
ensilage. For breeding cows" the witness
continued, Eve found it wonderful stuff" Mr.
Bateman then gave the experience of one of his
tenants. His flock was in the depths of despair;
they had the foot and mouth disease in the
Autumn, and looked about as wretched as a
flock of 400 ewes could look. About Christmas
they began to be fed with silage, and soon
picked up in a remarkable manner. When it
came to lambing time in February, their bags
were distended beyond all expectation. The
flock had never had so healthy a lambing
From eight to ten pounds of silage per day,
with chaffed straw and some roots, were given.
Another witness from Yorkshire reported that
he gave his sheep on grass a rackfu Of silage
daily, aud that when given a rackful of silage
and a rackful of good hay they would eat the
former greedily in preference. There is in
deed, no question that sheep will take readily
to good, sweet silage and will do well on it,
Now that small stacks can be conveniently
made in different parts of the farm, we ought
never again to hear of shortness Of keep for
sheep in the Spring especially as the silage
will keep good in stacks for several years, so
that the abundance of one year may be saved
for the scarcity of another.-EaglisR Easilage
Treatise.
WINTER FEED AND FALL TREATMENT.
Cows can't make milk without suitable ma
terial out of which to make it, Then look we'll
to the feed. As an article of Winter and Spring
diet the value of roots-beets, mangods, tur-
nips, etc.-cannot be oyerestimated Every
farmer who has stock should look forward to
the Winter supply of such food, and cultivate
root patch. LOng-continued dry feeding will
inevitably result in a deranged condition of the
system. If daily or at least an occasional al
lowance of roots is given, your mich cows will
show their appreciation of the kindness by an
increased flow Of milk aud a general good CON
dItlOn. They like change of food, and in fact
their health demands it, Our health demands
it, too. 1t is contrary to nature to expect an
conditioned, unhealthy cow to yield good
quality of milk; 1t will necessarily be unwhoe-
some. Cattle that come out of Winter quarters
i'll poor cOnditiOniwill require the greater part
OF the Summer to regain what they lost during
the Winter
Stock that is reduced in flesh at the begin
ming of the Winter will require at least 25 per
cent. more feed to bridge over than if in a good
condition in the Fall. 1t is therefore quite es-
sential that cattle should have a sufficient sup
ply of such food as corn fodder, millet, oats
etc, after the Summer pastures begin to fail
until they 90 to the aftermath
The matter of proper shelter is also of as
much consequence as that of food No COW ex-
posed 10 the weather can be expected to Weld
satisfactory amount of milk As soon as the
frosty weather sets in, its effects on the cow
are seen, sad almost before the dairyman is
aware of 1t the milk AOw is materially dimin-
ished, and it is impossible to regain the loss
Cows that are expected to yield largely must
be carefully sheltered and literally feed A
commodious, we'll ventilated, clean stable is
lSCuSAt 0Nk WITCH 1T IbIlibIu DbIeu blldC Ger
tain per cent. of the food goes to keep up the
animal warmth, it viii be easy to understand
that good protection is in one sense food
indiana Farmer
GOOD TIME FOR COMMON SENSE.
good many sheepmen are feeling very good
just now over the rapidly advancing price of
wool, and the assurance that wool duties, for
the present at least, are safe These crcum-
stances are certainly encouraging; but it is to
be feared that they are likely to engender over
confidence. Believing this to be the case, we
feel that the occasion calls for word of caution
The sheep industry has for few years shown
tendency toward becoming more symmetri-
CAL If such term could be used in this connec-
ton; I. e., wool and mutton are receiving more
nearly equal consideration than ever before
This is as it should be, and must be if sheep are
to be permanently profitable. The danger now
is that the business may again became lop-
sided, and wool receive more than its share of
attention to the neglect of mutton. Let the
two be treated as though neither could flourish
without the other. This, we take it, is a COM
nonsense view of the present situation
Mirror and Farmer.
NOTES
Paint your buildings, vehicles and tools
- Don't OVerteed one day and restrict the
supply the next. Regularity in time and guam
tity when feeding saves labor and expense
LINK ABOUT getting material together for
that new granary and other necessary build
ings to be built during the Winter or in early
Spring.
= 1t is not good Judgment to hold on to grain
after it is fit for market In six months from
the time it is thrashed wheat Will shrink two
quarts to the bushel
Draw two or three loads of sand and place
it in frame of boards for permanent radish-
bed Grown in this the roots will be free from
worms, early and tender
- No farmer who has any brains can afford
to spend the short Winter days at hard labor
and then 60 trudging around with lantern in
one hand doing chores in the evening.
The free use of clover seed and keeping of
farm stock enables farmers to maintain land in
good condition for ordinary cropping without
purchasing commercial manures.
- Mud in the barnyard takes warmth from
the bodies of the animals. All preparations in
the barnyard should be made before the snow
comes. To keep stock in health, dryness is
essential.
= The dehorning craze, we believe, has had
its run. 1t was inhuman, unnecessary and de-
moralizing to beast aud human There was
enough barbarity without introducing this
Denyer Field and Farm
- The potato crop in Indiana, this year, is
the largest crop ever known there and prices
are ruling from % TO 80 cents a bushel, while
in southern Illinois they are selling as low
as Is cents bushel -