The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-05-06
We are indebted to Professor Henry,

We are indebted to Professor Henry,
director of the Wisconsin experiment
station, for some valuable experiments
which demonstrate the value OF salt and
ashes, or salt and bone dust for pigs shut
up and fed on rich, concentrated food.
Three pigs about five months old were
shut up October %, and fed corn meal,
with an allowance of hard wood ashes,
for six weeks. After that the ashes were
discontinued. During the SIX weeks,
while the pigs had the ashes, they ate
twenty eight and half pounds of corn
meal each per week. During the next
thirteen weeks, when no ashes were fur
nished, the pigs ate only nineteen and
three -fourths pounds of corn meal each
per week, and gained only two pounds
each per week. 1t is evident that as
soon as the ashes were omitted the pigs
lost their appetite. Pigs of this size,
six to seven months old, should have
eaten more as they grow larger, but in
stead Of this they ate less. In fact, they
ate little more than enough to sustain
the vital function, and, of course, could
gain but little. They were sick for
want of something, and subsequent ex-
periments seem to show what that some
thing was.
Four pigs, between four and five
months old, and weighing about seventy
FIVE pounds each, were divided into two
pens. One pen had corn meal, water,
salt and ashes. The other corn meal,
water and salt, but no ashes. The e1-
pertinent commenced September 80, and
continued to December %, or twelve
weeks. The pigs having ashes ate
eighteen and quarter pounds of corn
meal each per week, and gained three
and third pounds each week. The
pigs without ashes ate fourteen and a
half pounds or corn each per week, and
gained one and three-fourth pounds each
per week. The. extra four pounds of
corn per week that the ashes enabled the
pig to eat produced one and half
pounds of increased growth. So much
for good appetite.
1t has been supposed that corn is de-
fcient in nitrogen. But the ashes fur
nished no nitrogen. They were favor
able to health, appetite and digestion,
and enabled the pigs to eat, and digest,
and assimilate more corn, and to extract
from the extra quantity Of corn con-
snmed one and half pounds of pork
from four pounds of corn. We do not
think there is any other grain in the
world from which 80 much pork can be
extracted. 1t is the extrems richness of
the corn that clogs the stomach of
young pigs. They need less concen-
trated food. There is nothing as good
as milk, and the next best diluent is
green grass or clover, or even some
weeds that pigs will devour with great
relish. Roots like beets, or mangels, or
turnips are also good and are relished by
the pigs. But they are even moro de-
fcient in digestible nitrogen than corn,
and cannot take the place OF skinned
milk.
1t is to be hoped that Professor Henry
will continue his remarkably interesting
experiments till he teaches US how to feed
corn so as to get out of it the large
amount of nutriment it is known to con-
tain. Feeding ashes is good. Possibly
little bran or shorts fed with the corn
meal will be better. It is undoubtedly
largely question of appetite and diges-
ton, or more likely question of assimi-
lation, digestion and appetite. If it is
found, as may we'll be the case, that some
less rich food, containing more ash and
nitrogen, is favorable to assimilation,
farmers have vile range of by-products
to select from. Bran, shorts, brewers
grains, malt sprouts, corn refuse from
starch and glucose factories, and oil cakes
of all kinds are by-products, which should
be sold at price which farmers can af-
ford to pay. If corn is too rich, some of
these by-products from which the rich
ness has been extracted can be mixed
with it. 1t ought not to be a difficult
matter to make rich food less rich. TAX
ing oil and starch out of corn and other
grain leaves higher percentage of ash
and nitrogen in the refuse.-American
AgrieuHu'ist.