The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1896-01-23
AGRICULTURAL COLUMN.
Prepared Especially for This Paper.

prepared Especially for This Paper.
GRINDING FEED o HoGs.-lt Is very
doubtful il grinding feed for fatteping
hogs is a profitable practice. The major
tty of experiments on this subject seem
to show that while ground feed may pro-
duce slightly better gains, they are sell
dom enough larger to pay the cost OF
grinding. The Maine Station, after a two
years. trial, comes to the conclusion that
whole corn produces as much gain pound
for pound as corr meal and the cost of
grinding is at least saved. At the Wis
consin station corn meal gave better
results with heavy hogs, and whole corn
made greater gains with lighter hogs.
Corn meal gave slightly better results Mt
the Alabama station and in one trial at
the Kentucky station. In another trial
at the latter station whole corn gave as
good results rs corn meal. The great
majority OF trials seems to show that
grinding corn for hogs is not profitable
and in many cases not even desirable.
COTTON SEED MEAL FOL HoGs.-Cotton
seed meal can not be safely led to hogs.
Many farmers, especially in the south
have discovered this fact to their sorrow.
Its chemical composition indicates that
it may be profltably combined with corn,
but numerous experiments have shown
c%onclusively that it not only can not be
prohtably fed but it's use in the iattening
ration is almost sure to be followed by
the death OF the animals. In a trial at
the Texas ex experiment. station, over one
half OF the hogs led on cotton seed meal
died. A recent bulletin from Kansas
draws the following conclusions: "Cot-
ton seed meal proved poisonous to pigs
ever though fed in small quantities. The
pigs died from three to eight weeks after
being put on this food. Post norton
examinations revealed in all cases severe
inflammation and congestion OF the intes-
tines, heart and lungs, Cotton seed pro-
duces very rapid gains in both pigs and
large hogs"
COOKING AND STEAMINa FooD FOE
HoGs.-This practice has been widely
recommended and practiced by a great
many farmers. Many inquiries are re-
ceived at the experiment. stations and the
general opinion among farmers seems to
be that cooking greatly improves the
value OF food for fattening purposes The
results OF a large number OF experiments
show that cooking is not only OF nc
advantage but in many cases is a positive
disadvantage. At the iowa station g
bushel OF dry corn produced thirteen
pounds OF gain while the same amount o.
cooked corn only produced 10. pounds o.
gain. This experiment was tried for nine
years at the Maine station, comparing raw
corn meal with cooked corn meal and IL
every case without a single exception tn,
uncooked meal gave the better results
The Wisconsin station employed various
kinds OF food stuffs, such as corn meal
shorts, whole corn, and barley, and IL
every case the results were against cook
ing. In all, the experiment stations hav,
made about t~wenty-four trials will
cooked and uncooked food and in nearl,
all OF these the u%ncooked food has givel
the better results. 1t would seem there
fore that cooking food for hogs is unproi
liable and seldom II ever to be recon-
mended.
EAhLL 5IhlT1 ~ Al
EFFECT ON SUMMER DRoUTH.-The sol
10 properly considered as a great store
house for plant food, In which food Is nc
only stored but prepared Tor the use
plants. OF all the valuable substances l
the soil, water is perhaps the most impor
tant. 1t acts as q plant food itself,
dissolves other food materials and carrie
them through the soil to the plants an
also distributes food to the various par
Of the plant itself. 1t very often happen
that when the plant Is nearing maturit
and is most In need Of water, the rainfa
! Is not sufficient to produce the greateI
amount OF growth possible. Cons'
quently any practice that will impro'
the soil in such q way as to hold water
reserve for \ time Of need u worthy