The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-10-25

AbOut AEttS w OHh
Among the Bees-some Timely Re-
cipes.
The value of straw is underestimate
on most farms. One often sees the
statement that the farmer who winters
his stock at a straw stack is playing a
losing game, and the statement is true
ninety-nine cases out of a hundred. but
we get the Impression that the straw
is wholly at fault when it is not. The
man who would winter his horses or cat
tie in an oat bin would probably lose
money, but this is no argument against
oats as food. Oats are not perfect
food for an animal. but we combine this
grain with other food. thereby getting
a good paying ration. Straw is not a
rich food. il Is true, but we know from
experience that there is much food value
In good, bright straw when rightly ham
died. In feeding IL several mistakes are
usually made.
In the case Of cattle at the straw
stack one point to be noted is that they
usually have TO suffer from exposure.
The straw Is eaten by animals that need
lots of rich food merely to supply heat
of which every wind robs them. II re-
qulres heavy feeding in exposed lots to
make any good gain on stock, and we
readily grant that straw is unequal to
/. the task Of supplying IL. The straw is
blamed for the effects Of exposure, while
other roughness is often fed in warm
stables. and is thus able TO show much
better gain from the feeding. II IL were
the habit to NOW straw and feed IL In
the managers II would be much more
highly valued as a feeding stuff.
Another mistake Is in requiring ami
mails i'm stalls TO eat straw as closely as
they do eat cut stuff, such as good hay
and fodder A certain per cent. of wheat
and oat straw gets woody while waiting
for the grain TO rippen. and II Is not
wanted by stock. Stock find one-half or
two-thirds OF common straw palatable
and nourishinR In feeding II one should
give about fifteen pounds for every ten
needed by the animal, and the excess
should be removed at feeding time for
bedding. This Is an important point.
No atten 4 should be made TO compel
the animal 10 eat II up clean.
II Cwo tons OF straw viii give as good
returns In feeding as one ton OF tlmo-
thy. it's feeding value is double that
usually supposed, and we are very suro
that II farmers would keep the straw
bright and feed double the quantity
eaten, thus letting the stock Gull out
the chan. heads. blades thlmbles and
tender stalks, they would agree that the
feeding value OF the two tons OF straw
Is greater than that OF one ton OF much
hay that Is fed. When barn feeding OF
straw ls not practicable then the straw
should be well-stacked IN small barn
lot and the stock be permitted to eat
from the stack two hours every morn
ing that the weather permits, feeding
hay at night. They will Gull out the
best, trampIng under the other for man
ure. This ia wastef,ii way. but some
good is gotten from the straw.
Another mistake IN made feeding only
corn with ytraw. Straw is not a nitro
genous food, and the grain fed with Il
should be composed OF oats. bran and
other heterogeneous food. Some corn is al
ways good In winter. when heat Is need
ed. but the grain should consist chiefly
Of a less starchy food. The straw needs
a balancing grain, and corn IL not able
10 balance the ration. By proper use OF
wheat straw its feeding value is esti-
mated thrice the usual farm price. and
that OF oat straw is much greater than
that OF wheat.
But the food value OF straw IL not
much over half It's value Or. Armsby
estimates the manuriai value OF ton
of wheat straw at $3.50; of barley straw,
1882; OF oat straw. $500. This means
that analysis shows that a ton OF wheat
straw contains $3.50 worth of elements
Of plant food that we buy in CONNER
cial fertilizers. We are ready to pay
out s2.69 for that many dollars worth OF
plant food in a commercial fertilizer, but
many of us will sell the straw for one
third this sum, or let IL stand in stacks
wasting away. Chemistry tells us the
plant food in IL. and all we need do is
TO give 1t to the soil.
But there is another vaule Prof. Arms
by does not mention. The soil on most
farms Is losing its stock OF vegetable
matter or mould, and It's mechanical con-
dition is growing worse every year. 1t
is not SO easily titled as IL once was, but
is becoming packed and ifeless This
rotten straw in the soil adds humus to
ii, or If used as a top-dressing after
passing through the stables IL helps TO
form a mulch that is beneficial to the
SOIL The mechanical value Of all barn
yard manures is underestimated. Not
only do they contain this plant food
whose value is estimated by our scien-
lists, but IL has an ADDED value in It's
effect on the mechanical condition Of the
land. f..A
The valu, OF straw IN this country is
not estimated one-fourth as high as in
England, where the yield OF straw at
harvest time is noted with the same
care as that of grain. We waste untold
thousands Of dollars in this country by
cur neglect of straw. The best half Of
il should be used feed and the re-
mainder should go into the manure pits.
When fed In warm stables with suitable
grain it Will be ranked as 1t deserves.