The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1896-03-21
SOME + A RM TOPICS,
USEFUL INFORMATION FOR. THE
TILLERS OF THE SOIL.


. USEFUL INFORMATION ron TH n,
4 TILLERs OFSTHE SOIL.
| The Right Way to Feed for eggs
The Characteristics Of Good silagee
-Potnt toes for Cows-Fnrmer's Ice
1 sHouse-NOtes. Esr#
| The feeding Of poultry has been re,
ceiving Increased attention during the
last few years, especially at the Rhode
Island, New York state and Ohio ex-
| pertinent stations In a general way,
the experience at these institutions
demonstrates conclusively the value OF
a ration rich in protein. This is easily
understood, for we know that the egg
is very rich in albumen on protein and
this element the hen can get only from
the food it consumes. Similar tests
have been made on a practical scale
I by many of the larger poultry keepers
j.. Missy, a well known fancier and
ers in Washtenaw county, Mich. He
light Bra hmas, Langshans, Buff Coch-
ms, Plymouth Rocks and White Wyan-
dottes, both for sale and fancy stock
and also for eggs for market. His egg
records attest his Judgment both in
breeding and feeding, and on the lat
ter subject he says: n
Il have bred fancy poultry extern
sively for twelve years, and during
that time have tried various ways of
furnishing my fowls and chicks the
requisite supply of animal food, but
have found nothing so convenient, so
economical and so satisfactory to use
as Bowker's animal meal, and the in
creased demand for it among my GUS
toners is evidence that they concur in
my own views. feed it in soft food.
During the winter my laying hens get
it daily in their morning meal; in sum-
mer I feed more whole Jain (mainly
wheat and OATS, but still aim to have
them get soft food and animal meal
two or three times a week. I mix it
with the dry ground feed in the pro-
portion of about one part animal meal
to eight or ten parts ground feed, and
then thoroughly scald the feed, letting
it stand and cook in it's own heat an
hour. or two before feeding. For
ground feed I have found that two
parts corn, one part oats, one part
wheat, ground together, and then one
part wheat bran added, makes a very
desirable combination. For chicks I
have the Oat hulls sifted out, and some
times omit the bran, as it may prove
little too loosening when the animal
meal Is also used, as we always do,
for would not think Of trying to grow
chicks without it. They get It.. every
morning. I find it advisable to use a
smaller proportion Of animal meal
when first beginning to feed it, and in
crease the amount as they become ac-
customed to it."-Orlnge Judd Farmer.
Potatoes for Cows.
GAS feed for dairy COWS the potatoes
pay we'll, but they must be fed prop
erly, and not fed indiscriminately,
says a writer in the American Guilt
yator. '"The owner of a39few dairy
cows this winter need not worry about
his surplus potato crop. Where winter
dalrying is carried ON the potates will
supply the need for root crops very
satisfactorily, or when fed with pump
kins or turnips or beets they will in
crease the flow eff milk most decidedly.
In many ways they are as valuable as
grain for this purpose. They keep the
system of the COWS in excellent condi-
ton and prevent them from drying up,
which they are apt to do in winter
The way to feed them is to give peck
| of potatoes about once a day in place
Of the grain diet or feed them potatoes
two or three days in succession and
then skip several days. The animal
will show a keener relish for corn or
grain after the potato feed than before
and her whole system will be stimu-
lated by the change. Young calves
love potatoes and do we'll on them.
Pigs are very fond Of boiled potatoes.
Boil the potatoes thoroughly in big
kettle, adding a little cornmeal and a
few apples If they are handy Mix
together thoroughly and feed to the
pigs either warm or cold. They will
relish the diet, and thrive nicely off it
during the winter months. IL ..-.<
''Horses likewise eat the potatoe
greedily. Now as to the question of
doing injury to the farm animals, it
can be said that any watery food will
produce evil results if piled into the
animals day after day as fast as they
will eat 1t. Potatoes, like wheat, must
be fed judiciously and intelligently.
II given In the proper quantities and
the animals watched no harm will fol-
low, but good results will be obtained
in a year when potatoes are destined
to be low"
The characteristics of Good Si1age.
Good corn silage should be bright
green, only a little darker than when
put into the silo and free from mold
The kernels Of corn should be nearly
natural in color and the silage Should
have a mild acid taste and a we'll.
marked and pleasant smell. Any mold
ing Of the silage, any strong, offensive
odor, and any dark or black color arc
indications of losses Of dry matter
greater than 8 to II per cent. A silo
which gives this kind Of silage is de-
fective in some important particular.
There will be scattered through the
Sllage SIn8 ii SsrOtS thQ size nf tho l>nnd q