The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-11-28

EullduClpu3d
There is almost as much wasted on the
farm sometimes as is consumed or sold,
and with the system of management prac-
ticed with STRAW and fodder by farmers
they lose more than they are aware OF.
The attempt to q la Dor by refusing to
properly store and use some kinds of cattle
foods entails q loss greater than the labor
saved. and compels the famer to buy food
when he really should not do SO. There is
no reason why q farmer should use hay
only when he can make his hay do better
service by the utilization of his fodder and
straw.
An ear of corn is but a portion of the
gain from the stalk. 1t is of itself incom-
plete as food. 1t contains but 03 pounds
of lime In 1000 pounds, its entire proper
tion of ash mineral matter) being but q
fraction over twelve pounds. while every
LOCO POUNDS of the cured stalks n leaves
contain over f0rty-pOunds OF ash. of which
over four pounds are lime. If the farmer
was dependent upon the corn crop entirely
he would be compelled to uss the fodder In
order to support life in mis- stock. as the
young stock would perish if fed on grain
only; for IL would be so deficient In bone
elements as to be almost valueless for that
purpose: but the entire plant (grain. stalks
and leavesl would keep the stock thrifty.
If the stalks and leaves are so essential
under certain circumstances, they are also
valuable foods at all times.
A ton of stalks contains seventeen pounds
Oh IHts 6iAty-uVo pouuub Oh pIOtclu. ubo
pounds of phoephoric aoid and about 900
pounds of starch, sugar and fibre. Wheat
straw contains about thirteen pounds OF
fat, oat straw about the same and rye
straw eight pounds. OF protein. oat straw
contains thirty pounds, wheat straw thlr-
teen pounds and rye straw sixteen pounds.
OF starch, sugar and fibre rye straw con-
talns about $50 pounds. oat straw 500
pounds and wheat straw 200 pounds. The
straws are all much ricner IN mineral mat
ter than their respective grains Tor seeds
By cutting the plants at certain stages of
growth the elements that are being car
RED by the sap TO ill out the seeds are ar
rested in the stalks. and the stalks are con-
%sequently more valuable. as in the case OF
oat straw when 1t il cut in the milky stage
of the grain, and also with fodder that Is
cut when the ears of corn are just beginn-
ing to glaze.
1t has been claimed that two pounds of
stalk butts contain as much nutriment as
q pound of corn and cob meal. n that two
and one-half pounds of stalks fully equal
one pound of corn az food. This is true. so
far as chemical analysis shows, but all OF
the stalk may not be digestible. o waste oc-
curing even after it is eaten. As q recon-
pense, however. for the lack of digestlble
matter. is the conversion of the stalks into
manure by the animal. which renders it
more suitable as plant food. which alone is
a great gain. When the fodder (stocks and
~leaves). as well as the straw. Is passed
through u cutter Tor "maceratOr." for tho
stalksl. and fed as an accompaniment to
the hay, along with the usual allowance OF
grain. the farmer will be able to produce
beef at less cost, and will more than save
the cost of the labor by this method of con-
verting tie indipestiblo portions into
manure and soluble plant food.