Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1896-11-17
FEEDING APPLES

FEEDING APPLES.
With great quantities OF perishable
spples on hand without a market, their
feeding value i matter of some impor-
tance. 10 IL quite commoa thing TO run
across queries in the papers In regard 10
their value as food for stock. Almost
Invariably these questions are answered
b, those WAC really know nothing about
it-by recommending their use in that
Nay and claimiGg marked results.
We have 70 confess that we are forced
To large increase of scepticism over any
considerable value 20 apples for stock
food. We know there are StgfeaatRtS
enough going the rounds in regard To
their lue for cows. But we can never
accept a mere statement as reliable un-
less cOrrobOrated BY experience. We
have always lived on a farm where large
quantities OF apples have been grown,
and occasionally there have been years
all the way along when there have been
more or less that have had no other use
than to De fed out With the claim OF
their value for feeding all the time before
u, We have tried 10 note carefully the
effects from their use FOR this purpose.
WELD without market, we have fed
large quantities, and with the same OBJ
serving care as many times heretofore.
After all this experience We are obliged
90 say that We have never been able 10
realize from their use fed 10 cows In
milk any results that could be measured.
Cows eat them raveuously. but they con
tain 80 little ot nutrimeut that their ef-
feet on the milk flow has in all cases been
insignificant and disappointing. We
know they contain some nutrition, but
it i 80 small a measure that IN the
Qusntity OF apples that may properly be
ted. there l. 80 little that the results with
our feeding have been too small 10 have
any marked effect.
IL i claimed they are n good appetizer
and also have favorable effect on the
digestive processes. While this j. all
guess work. We do not question il in case
an appetizer and digestion promoter i
needed AZ that season of the year, and
with the variety Of food the cows receive
~ the time when the spples Sre fed.
But In this use. again, that factor i a
hard thing 10 measure, and generally !
found more or less obscure 10 results
still, We feed apples 70 COWS. They get
u hat little nutrition there j. in them and
il disposes Of the fruit. But We never
have been able 70 make visible the re-
suits that are 50 generally claimed for
their use in that way.
The most satisfactory results from
feeding spples with u have been in giving
them % fatteuing hogs as q bulky, aPpe-
thing food going With liberal meal feed
ing. They seem "a lust meet the de-
mtnds Ot the case. Oi course Il i only
limited quantity that can be utilized
Ia this way.
Shosts can be carried along and De
made 20 hold their own" on apples
alone. but they will make Insignificant
growth unless some food material be-
added out ot which % make that growth.
We have disposed % many apples from
time 20 time ia this wav- aud with salts
factory results when Sn undue share of
reliance was not made on the apples.
We are aware that cur estimate of ap-
piles for stock food has not been drawn
from what coul be st down a. accurate
experiment. ~ far a. We know there
are no authentic experiments Of the kind
on record. But a close observation con-
tiuued through wears Of experience.
coupled with good Judgment, has proved
a safe reliance. ard j. the basis from
which successful farming has been
chiefly built up. aud on which 1t must
ever continue 10 lsrgely rest.-Maine
Farmer.