Middletown transcript., 1888-10-11
sUooULENr FOOD FOR SHEEP.

Those of our readers who are inter
ested in sheep growing must have been
impressed with the Importance of sue,
culent food for sheep when reading
Prof. Roberts interesting experiment
reported in late issue of the Gazette.
In that experiment it was shown that
lambs did not continue to thrive upon
a ration consisting of meadow hay and
corn-meal, and that towards spring
they even refused to eat the corn meal
until feed of mangolds was added to
their ration. Many farmers are salts
fed that their sheep can get hay only,
and the sheep of such men would con-
slider grain luxury, but the expert
ments referred to show that in this
case something more than both of
these was needed to secure even moder-
ate resultswith lambs. Whether we shall
endeavor to grow roots for our sheep
to supply them with succul ent food
is question of no small Importance.
Considering the fact that the Ameri-
can farmer has been urged by scores
of writers from year to year to plant
roots, and yet has failed to do SO to
any extent, may it not be wise to en-
deavor to fill the want in some other
wayP This other way just now seems
to be the silo, and we can earnestly
recommend it to our sheep friends as
means of providing the small amount
of sueculent food for each animal that
seems SO necessary to its well-being.
Although the clover top is short in
many places of the West, there are
many sections where just now the
second crop is coming on. But the
second crop clover is unsatisfactory
in many ways, as it has been handled
in the past; it is almost impossible to
dry it into hay because the ground is
damp, the days short, and the sun not
so uniformly hot as in July. which re-
suits usually in giving US blackened,
brittle. flavorless product, unsatisfac-
tory to both the feeder and the animals
fed. Chemistry shows us that this
second crop contains large amount
of nutriment, which may be valuable
if properly handled. Why not place
this second crop in the silo for our
sheep ? 1t is certainly the easiest way
to handle it and retain all of the feed
value.
From what has been said upon en-
silage in the Gazette this season, it is
evident that clover ensilage is easily
and economically made. A NOW can
be double boarded on the inside with
paper between the boards, and into
this the clover as fast as cut can be
placed direct from the field, though no
injury will be done if it is somewhat
wilted or if a little rain has fallen upon
it. No feed-cutter is necessary, and
the. simplest form of silo is sufficient.
To such of our readers as are planning
to strike the spring market with lambs
and mutton, we most heartily RECON-
mend the silo, and urge its adoption
for providing that portion of succulent
food which is so essential to the high
est results. A little thought and at
tention at this time may bring about
most important and favorable results.
We can urge our readers to try clover
for ensilage with the least fear of pos
sible failure, and no great expense
need be incurred, and no machinery
bought which would be thrown aside
were the results unsatisfactory. There
is not one farmer in ten who cannot
build small silo in some part of his
barn to test ensilage as is here RECON-
mended. If we find that our second
crop clover can be converted into
moist, nutritious food, retaining near
ly all the value of the green plant, and
that this is readily consumed by our
sheep, we have done much to aid us in
pushing our stock forward in growth
and fattening to the spring Market
Breeders Gazette.