Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1899-12-19
WooDLAwN FARMERS CLUB.
rRepoited for the Gazstte.]

Reported tor the Gazstte.
Pursuit to adjournment, the Wood
lawn Farmers Club met on the Oh ia
slant at "Engleside." the home of MIR.
and Mrs. C. Lukeps, and came to order
st the call OF the president, E. E. Ma
sou, about 4 P. m.
TIE minutes of the November meet
ing were read and approved.
Tne secretary reported the receipt OF
the December list of publications issued
by The Department of Agriculture.
MIR. Wright thought that as there is
often good deal of good matter in
these publications, it would be advis-
able fer the club to have one copy OF
sch bulletin to use in the discussions
at our meetings.
Msjor II. E. Alvord, chief of the
dairy division of the Department of
Agriculture, bsing in attendance, the
Or: sidept introduced him to the club,
saying that the committee to wait upon
he Secretary of Agriculture, finding
shat he could probably not attend this
meeting, had invited Maj. Alvord to
atieu6.
Maj. Alvoid then proceeded to lead
discussion on the general topic OF
"W oat science has done in recent years
o connection with the industry OF
isirying," remarking that it was pres
sure of business and not lack of interest
hat had kept the Secretary OF Agricul'
,ure away. Maj. Alvord said that the
researches of science are directed first
toward the veri6cation OF old facts, and
secondly to the establishment of new
ones. In relation to dairy cattle
science has pointed out the typical
lairy COW. Herdsmen can arrive at a
possession of the best stock for their
purpose by breeding and selection or
Nv purchase of others who have made
breeding and selection business. By
the improved tests that science has ln-
reduced the breeder is better able to
make selections and weed out the un-
profitable stock. Science has taught
us something in regard to the care OF
stock and the economy of shelter.
Also of judicious and unjudicious
shelter. A few years ago we
drifted into the extreme by housing too
closely and undermining the health OF
she herd. The rapid spread OF tuber-
ulosisls no doubt, in part, due to too
close confinement.
c. Lukens asked what is recognized
as the proper temperature for winter
stables. ,oo
Mai. Alvord recommended 5000 7O0
z ;fthe air ia frequently changed; AZ
The lowest. This refers to almost col
slant stablipg with exercise in very
sheltered place and only in mild
weather.
Mr.. Wright thought that under such
high temperatures, nature would soon
forget to provide the cow with the
usual winter clothing and thus increase
risk.
Mai. Alvord said, the herdsman must,
of course, use judgment and not SUB
iect The COW to shock or chill. ln the
matter of feeding Maj. Alvord said we
nave gained Science, by long series
If experiments and investigations, has
fixed standards for feeding rations:
Food stufs have been analyzed and
Cbeir feeding value ascertained so that
the business is reduced to scientific
,r rational feeding for the desired pur-
pose. :. ., :, u
reliable work giving tabulations ano
formu for feeding.
Mai. Alvord recommended Professor
Hepry's Feeds and Feeding as being
the hist and most comprehensive. DE
also said that the tables are given IN q
onmber of Experiment Station ou',
la,ines and that one of the most ust1ui
tables gives the digestable contents oil
'he foods so that one may always Know
now much of substance he Is 1eeoiog
is utilized by the animal. Inc inu.-
.,astable part of the food is indlspensa
',a how.ver. as the animal is SO coz
pu' ,;,n.ed as to require bulk. Major A.,
yord then explained the balancing OF
ss.;ans soiu , and said that the proposition OF
nitrooenous, or fl -sh forming mateer,
~ ,bs cs srbop aceous, or fat and heat
formers, in good pasture grass oeing !
70 that is taken as standaSu Anu q
rst,on is wide or narrow as IL ta-
rios one way or the other from tn's
standard. The herdsman mas VIZ
81 range of foods to select from, cotton u! N
ssed an I meal having the highest ratio OF
9i,rogenous S matter and cat straw lne
lowest. ,;,.,nlos wonld
arv ", nm a cow as is generally supposed;
Mai,r Alvord thought they woula ina
not @a2 and that in reasonable quantities quantities
uos ,hev w" would not be otherwise injurious, r.
M Mr.. Harrison asked if it Is possiole; 10 10
mska s a difference in the quality OF miik
ny feeding. o,,;od that all we'll
conducted experiments point 70 Tue anolisv iiU,
Of Of the milk, but that this .;ae s.a.eoei Of
needs great deal Of explan,a'it8pdi p,a tad she H,
G urse if a COW is not properly 10 asu nix ELK
will not be up to her standard oa n maiI
and ",l then p .oper feeding on >, Tu,. ;m.
balanced ration will cause ner :; ~ nrnr ,u
nroye and SO long as her ration Is p,UtI n
erly balanced he per cent. OF Ia' ;nto ",
ei1 eof cbap.e. You can feed water lbso a.
u';Ik nJi but YOU csnpot feed fat into 1t OF @
rnns ~, ~, the normal production OF Ins COW "
IN feed an unbalanced ration Is 20 un.