The National tribune., 1895-01-31
OUR RURAL TOPICS.
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers
Silo the Best.


determining the fattening value of dry as
compared to soaked corn when fed to steers.
Two lots Of steers, of FIVE each, were placed
under exactly similar conditions, exeept
that lot one were fed shelIed corn soaked.
and lot two shelled corn dry. The trial
lasted five months Lot one made an aver
age daily gain of 2.i76 pounds, while los
two made an average daily gain Of /. 95T
pounds. This IS handsome percentages in
favor Of soaked corn, showing its greater
digestibility. Corn silage is in fact tho
soaked stalk and ear OF the corn plant with
the additional fact in its favor that it is
soaked in its own natural Juices May not
this be an important reason for the good
effects seen in feeding it to mich cows?
Feeding steers.
A recent bulletin Of the Utah Experiment.
Station treats Of, first, the value of straw az
a substitute for hay second, short Spring
periods of grain feeding; third. relative value
of ensilage, roots, and straw as condiments;
fourth, value Of different grain rations. The
following facts are brought out in the bulIe-
tin:
Steers fed on mixed hay alone for 1f2
days gained LOO pounds per day each.
Steers fed straw and hay with grain gained
rs pounds per day each for 80 DAYS. Steers
fed on lucerne and straw for So days gained
practically nothing. Steers fed on red cIo-
yer and straw for % days gained Sc pounds
per day each.
Steers fed on grain and straw for 112 DAVIS
gained 80 pounds per day per steer.
All the steers, after having been fed as spe-
cited IN paragraphs L, ?, and 3, gained but
"a pounds per day each for 30 DAYS on
mixed hay, grain, and roots. The smallness
of the gain is thought to be due TO the
change of food.
Steers housed at night and in yard dur
ing the day, when fed on hay and grain, and
either roots, straw or ensilage, gained 1. IS
pounds per day each for ga days.
The experiments indicate that any attempt
to crowd a steer late in the Spring, after he
has been moderately well fed, will result in
q loss.
Roots made more gain than either straw
or ensilage.
As the amount of grain fed increased the
growth increased, and the cost of the gain
decreased.
Steers bought at two cents and fed in tina
manner indicated during the Winter cannot
be sold at profit in the Spring for less than
three cents.
The bulletins Of the Agricultural College,
experiment Station are mailed free on APP
plIeatlon. Address Director Utah Expert
ment Station, Logan, Utah.
The Value of Clover.
Trials at the Minnesota Experiment. Sta
ton show that an acre of clover in full
bloom, weighing 1000 pounds, will have
roots weighing, approximately, /, $50 pounds.
These will contain 80 pounds of nitrogen,
costing. in the form of commercial fertilizer.
over So, to say nothing of the $50 pounds Of
mineral matter, which is in the most avail
able form for the use of following crop.
But the nitrogen is largely clear addition
to the natural supply in the soil; and the
mineral matters are largely pumped up
from depths beyond the reach of most grain
and grass crops. In view Of facts like these.
IAN We afford to neglect this source of sup
ply, and depend on purchased fertility in
the form of commercial fertilizer?
Such crops as clover or peas, when turned
under, add nitrogen to the soil, while millet
md Hungarian grass kill out weeds, even
without cultivation. The soil can be made
7ery fertile by the use of artificial fertilizers
I rotation of crops is followed, because
he clover lessons the cost of nitrogen; but
here will be q loss of the fertilizers used
Unless appropriate crops are grown for
converting the whole of the plant food
nto something salable, and to keep the
oil balanced in the nourishment to be
provided to crops.
Rotation and the use of green manurial
rOps keep the land always in proper condi-
ion for supplying the next crop, and pre-
ent weeds from robbing the soil, while the
exture of the soil and it's capacity for ab-
orbing and supplying moisture is also in
reased. The best of all crops used in rota-
ion is clover, as it always enriches the soil
nd leaves the land in better condition than
'efore, and for that reason it should never
10 omitted.
Nutritivs vaIue of Foods.
Farmers Bulletin No. % of the United
tates Department. of Agriculture deals with
pods, their nutritive value and cost, and is
ne Of series of bulletins prepared under
ne special appropriation to enable the Sec
etary OF Agriculture to investigate and re-
Ort upon the nutritive value of the various
rtIcles and commodities used for human
1od, with special suggestion of full, whole
ONE and edible ratiOns less wastefuI and
IOre economical than those in common use"
he Bulletin has been prepared by DIR. At
'ater, former Director Of the Office of Ex-
eriment Stations in the Department, aud
bject ofspeGial study and investigation. An
lea of the scope covered by the Bulletin,
Thich is included in the series of Farmers
bulletins, from the fact that it seeks &c
resent the subject in popular manner, in
aown by the table OF contents, which include
ne following captions:
" How food is used in the body" "The
lei value of food /" Definition of food and
iod economy" Nutritive values of differ
nc food materials" Composition Of food
IateriaIs," The digestibility of food, /" "The
ting of food to the needs of the body"
Pecuniary economy of fOOd,p Cheap VS..
ear food" Waste of food" Food and
ealth," Analyses of different food ma
'rials," Amounts of nutrients which may
. purchased for % cents" The Bulletin
Jay be had by addressing Secretary of Agri-
allure, Washington, ID. c.
Rust on COrnstaIks.
Several farmers have had mysteriousdeaths
n0ng their cattle of late, and il was thought
Icy had swallowed smut which is some
mes found on corn, but veterinarians now
y it is fungus growth or crust on the
ak. The disease is caused by feeding the
title corn fodder that has been poisoned
: rusty fungus growth, which attacks the
I'm during its development and stunts its
owth, turning the stalks and blades a
sty color. The fungus germ is taken into
e stomach, and thence into the system.
affects the brain. and causes paralysis, and
many cases the animal will be found dead
fore it is discovered that it is ailing. The