The Princeton union., 1894-12-27
FOR THE FARMERS.
USEFUL POINTERS CONCERNING
FARM MATTERS.

iaEss FARM -h1AASIEitS.
How to Keep Up the Fertility Of Our
Farms-The Feedin. Value of Roots
The SOuring Of Milk-Wheat as
Stock Food.
Soils have but little capacity for
holding nitrogen in soluble compounds
as nitric acid and ammonia, while ordi-
narily phosphoric acid and potash are
easily held. The bank which holds
the phosphoric acid and potash Is "sol-
i'd" but not so with nitrogen. 10 en-
deavor to accumulate working nitro
| gen capital by the application of sol
uble materials such as nitrate of soda
| is folly; but such capital is desirable
and it's accumulation in manures, stub
BILE and roots OF grass and clover,
green crops to be plowed under, ETC.,
is sound practice Green manlring can
not increase the quantity Of phosphor-
ic acid or potash, as the plant returns
only what it received from the soil;
neither does the plant prevent their
loss, as the soil has the capacity for
their retention. AS green manuring
plants are vigorous growers, the feed
ing roots are provided with an acid
which exerts a powerful solvent ac-
ton. The myriads Of roots ramify all
through the soil, dissolving phosphoric
acid and potash as they grow.
Clover, peas, beans, vetches, lupines
and few other plants absorb nitrogen
from the air. The supply Of nitrogen in
the air is exhaustless and nitrogen is
the most expensive plant food. By the
agency Of bacteria, which develop in
little nodules upon the roots Of the
plants named above, atmospheric nj
trogen is assilnilated. For success in
growing these air air nitrogen tlsers
the Soil must be well drained and
pulverized, potash, phosphoric acid and
lime must be in plentif IL supply, as
must the germs of the proper bacteria
and but small stock of available
soil nitrogen. If the proper bacteria
are absent the plant is powerless to
has two Values food and manurial.
Plow the crop in and the entire manu-
rial value is obtained, while if fed
wisely the full value and four-ffths
Of the manurial value are obtained.
| II
rial value minus the cost Of handling
crop and manure under conditions pre-
vailing in Massachusetts, Will gener-
ally be greater than the full manurial
value, hence the wisdom of feeding
rather than turning under a crop which
farm stock will relish. Whether the
crop is pastured or cut and fed green
makes no material difference. The ma
nurial effects of roots and stubble of a
green crop is always considerable
Orange Judd Farmer
The Feeding Value of Roots.
There are many substances which, II
chemical analysis be taken as the sole
guide for feeding value, would appear
to be ideal rations, yet in it is some
times found that either the animals
will refuse to eat them altogether, OF
fail to do well when restricted to them
It is important then that foods should
be appetizing, that they should be
relished by the stock. Again ,one can
not consistently advise the use of arti
cles Of food, at least to any consid
erable extent, unless it can be profit
ably produced or purchased at a com
paratively reasonable figure in the mar
kets.
The chemical analysis Of roots has
:: proven satisfactory, they are relishel
by stock, they can be proftably grown
and when fed out to farm animals
, experience has shown that the result:
obtained have come up to all reason
able expectations. I find them valuable
as a food for all farm stock. Horse:
soon learn to like them and it haI
, been a custom with me to feed abou
two good sized roots to a horse every
day. All young cattle get ruta bagas
seldom more than sixty pounds of root:
] q day, cut, depending on the age an(
size of the animal I aim to feed til,
COWS what sugar beets they will ca
up clean. The brood sows get few
roots every day and seem to eat ant
relish them as we'll as grain. Poultr,
are fond Of a light feed Of tinel.
J chopped beets at frequent intervals.
, While I advocate the feeding O.
, roots to all farm animals, where sue
culent food in some other form is no
available, yet I believe that roots ar
pre- -eminently a most valuable and eco
. nomic food for sheep. At the Michigan
experiment station, in, an experimen
conducted to ascertain the relative val
ues of ensilage and roots for fat
tening lambs the roots gave much tn
most marked results. Not only this, bu
the economic value of roots as a facto
: in the ration employed for fatten
ing lambs was conclusively proven
: 1t is very expensive to construct sill
, and get suitable machinery, while il
} raising and feeding roots no grea
initial outlay is occasioned and tn
roots furnish valuable succulent food
Herbert w. Mumford, Michigan.
Feeding Corn Stalks.
Corn stalks have a greater feeding
value than is usually accredited tt
them, and if farmers would exercise
more care in securing them in goot
condition this so-called refuse of th'
corn crop would be in more demand
In old settled sections corn stalks ar
worth two and a half to three cents !:
bundle, Il common stalk being Gvid
ed into two bundles at husking time
#gf n o1>o,1f civfoon hills fn tho Hlo