The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-07-05
OUR RURAL TOPICS.
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers
Seia Beans.

information gathered from large numbers Of
farmers who have grown it only confirms as
in our opinion rs TO it's value. Il is one Of
the surest crops to raise that we know Of as
after stand Is once obtained it is the least
affected by the seasons of any plant we know.
We have seen it growing and furnishing in
land so wet that you could not walk over it,
and doing equally well in a severe drOuth.
During its growth it is an improver Of the
land, belonging as it does to the Ieguminous
order of plants, and thus acting as nitrogen
catcher. When grown the nutritiye value
of the fodder and bean is Of the highest order.
By analysis the bean is found to contain an
average of $40 per cent. of protein, Of nitro
gen free extract 2S.8 per cent, and OF fat
1853 per cent. This compares with corn
with protein los per cent, nitrogen free ex-
tract 696 per cent, fat "a per cent. The
fodder contains protein 80 per cent, nitrogen
free extract lis per cent, fat IL per cent,
whilst the average of corn fodder is protein
4. D per cent, nitrogen free extract 34.7 per
cent, fat Is per cent. The crop can be sue
cessfully grown along with the corn crop by
dropping the seed alternately with the corn.
Grown in this way, whilst not making quite
so large crop as grown alone, it yet makes
an excellent return without pereeptible in
jury to the corn crop. Grown alone. planted
in drills two feet six inches apart, and about
Is inches apart in the drill. the crop makes
a heavy yield both of fodder and beans.
The crop should be worked twice with the
eultiyator when starting and VIII then take
care of itself Stock of ali kinds are very
fond Of it, and for feeding hogs in the field
we believe no crop can be found to equal it.
1t makes most valuable addition to corn as
a siIage crop.
The great drawback to the extensive feed
ing of corn silage and corn alone has been
the deficiency of protein in the crop. This
the sofa bean supplies. Groessmann found
that silage made from fodder corn and
nearly-mature SOFA beans kept well aud con-
tanned more than one and one-haf times a.
much protein and ether extract in the dry
matter as the siIage from the same corn
sliced alone. The exact figures were 1877
per cent. of protein, as compared with S.97
per cent, and 537 per cent. of crude fas, az
compared with 3l27 per cent. DR.. Groess-
mann says: "The composition of the dry
vegetable matter of the mixed siisge COM
pares well with that of a medium quality Of
red clover haY.D
The North Carolina Station says with ref.
erenee to it's feeding value: Sofa bean silage
has been fed In our stable long enough to
give assurance of its value. Fer mich cows
it has seemed to arrest the natural decline
in yield for time when fed after q long
period on corn silage. Fed to a bull of q
little under 1000 pounds weight for over
five weeks, at the rate of IS pounds Der day,
the bull made slow but steady gain. Good
gains were made for long period even when
the food consisted very largely of the mixed
silage, and the silage was eaten with little
wasten
We strongly urge the growth Of the crop,
either for mixed silage with corn, or as q
separate crop. Incidentally, we may say
that we had a number of inquiries for tha
grain last Fall and Winter from the West
and North, where it is being made into
substitute for coffees-Southern PlGHter.
Feeding Young Stock.
Generosity in feeding valuable young
stock is always handsomely rewarded, as
the extra expense thus incurred by breeders
hastens maturity and the early marketing
of eolts. Breeders whose youngsters are
expected to develop into stake-winners
practice feeding liberal grain ration of
ground oats, rye, and bran to their colts
while they are running at pasture, and the
az large and lusty as ordinary two-year-olds,
and the following Winter can pull a sleigh
over the snow with the power of an old
campaigner. The breeders of California
and the Southern States who race their colts
have praetieed liberal feeding of their stock
during the season of pasture, as well as the
Winter months, with the result that nearly
all the champion records of young perform
ers are held by them. Nothing can be more
detrimental to the constitution of young
stock than TO stunt their growth by the starv-
alton system of feeding. How much money
is annually lost by owners of high-bred
stock turning their youngsters into scant
pastures or some wood lot and leaving them
all Summer to starve and be tormented by
flies, going into Winter quarters thin in
flesh and without having made any per-
ceptible growth during the season.
The blood of royal ancestors is of no avail
unless the offspFings are favored with liberal
treatment as to food and shelter. The null
titude of dwarfed high-bred trotting stock
that sells for less than the cost of production
in many instances is the fault of breeders
raising them on the starvation system. Aside
from the possibility of weII-bred youngster
turning out stake-winner, his value for an
ideal roadster is doubled by liberal feeding.
angular animal, while his wellfed brother
develops into handsome, good-sized indi-
viffuaL The starved colt is never ready for
the market, while the well-fed and properly
ed-for animal is sought after by a score Of
buyers. High condition in growing animals
tends to soundness of constitution, while the
starvation system generates unsoundness and
hereditary diseases. improvement in stock
implies liberal course Of feeding, and
royal family can be bred back to scrubs by
shiftless management. To make money in
breeding high-brea horses the same palms.
taking and diligence is required as to raise
fine crop of corn, and the farmer who uses
good foundation stock and properly cares for
the resultant foals viii never have occasion
to cry "ths bottom has fallen out of the
horse business."-DreUer's Journal
Farm Notes.
To keep lice in check during the warm
weather, dreneh the poultry houses with
strong soapsuds, and scatter lime over the
yards and runs.
Garlic chopped fine and mixed with the
food is said to be sure cure for gapes.
Nothing can make up for the stunted growth
of the pigs during the first two or three
months. They should be fed literally and
given as much milk as possible.
Prof. Babcock, of Wisconsin, found that
milk averaging s. is per cent. of fat made 266
pounds of cheese; milk averaging $50 per
cent of fat made 2. 80 pounds of cheese, and
c., ,cl-el