Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-03-02
(Copyrighted.)
Value of Straw.

Value of Straw.
The feeding value of straw does not
seem to be as well understood as IL
might be. judging from the hall
stacked piles one sees in various sec
tions rotting in the weather. If it is
not possible to give to straw shed or
barn room. it should be carefully
stacked, for it is too valuable to lose.
Straw as a regular part of the ra-
lions would hardly be advisable, but
as an occasional feed it will be eaten
with a relish by all farm animals.
Any portion not eaten may be used
for bedding.
If wheat and oat straw is fed with
bran or oil meal it has all the value
of clover or timothy hay. Adding bran
or oil meal is necessary to supply the
lack of protein in the tsraw. AS COM
pared with timothy hay, oat straw
contains two and one-half per cent.
less of protein; two per cent. less of
starches and sugar, and only one
tenth of one per cent. less of fat, so
it's food value is considerable. Used
as bedding it is one of the best absorb
ents on the farm, and it must be used
for that purpose to have any value as
a fertilizer.
Plant Artfchokes Now.
The statement has been made that
feeding artichokes TO hogs will pre-
vent cholera. While this is a broad
statement there is no doubt but that
the root can be grown and fed at less
expense than any other root crop. Nor
is there any question but that they
may be fed as part of the regular
ration to great advantage. The diff
Guilty experienced by some with the
root has been mainly due to the fact
that the wild variety was planted in
stead of the tame or tuberous-rooted
sort. Then the tubers are often put
in so late in the spring that the crop
is almost a failure. In the North the
tubers may be planted up to the mid
die Of November, and in the South
any time during the first two weeks
In December. The tubers are cut in
two-eye pieces, planted and cultivated
like potatoes. This late planting en-
ables them to get a good start in the
spring, and the yield will be one-third
more over spring planted seed. The
best varieties are the Mammoth
French, White and the White Jerusa-
lem. Unlike the wild varieties. the
tame sorts do not take possession of
the land, for they can be gotten rid
: of when desired by sowing the ground
to oats or blowing under the young
plants when a foot high. The tubers
should be planted and cultivated each
year as with any other crop.
Dieting for Hog Cholera.
The prevalence Of cholera during
the past few years has brought forth
innumerable remedies most of them
found wanting when tried. So des-
perate have breeders become that they
are now working on the plan of pre-
venting the disease by a scientific sys-
TEN of care and feeding. 1t is crafty
ing to know that hog raisers have at
last come to understand that swine
are not naturally filth-loving animals,
nor are they ready and willing to eat
anything and everything offered them.
The only surprising thing about the
matter is that it has taken SO long for
breeders to realize this fact. 1t can
not be denied that mixed ration for
swine will do much toward keeping
them in proper condition, nor can it
be disputed that the incessant ration
of corn weakens the digestive organs
and leaves the animal open to attacks
of disease. Grass and grain with
roots of some kind are the ideal food.
Roots are the natural food for hogs
and the tame artichokes seems to be