The sun., 1901-08-11
SEEKING FOOD FOR THE CATTLE.
Nebraska Farmers Want Substitutes for
the DrouCht-Ruined Corn.

LINCOLN, Neb., Aug. l0.-The panic
among the stockmen, which began with
the discovery that grass on the range was
running short because Of the drought and
that hay was soaring to almost prohibitive
prices. has subsidized and most hopeful
feeling prevails. The time was when the
cattle industry Of tho West was centred
in the great ranges. II does so no longer
Every farmer has a big bunch Of cattle
and the ranges have been divided up. The
corn and hay having been disposed OF "a
food by the drought the farmers have
started to hunt up substitutes
Hundreds of acres OF corn have been
cut in the last two weeks for feed. green
cornstalks being better for that purpose
than dry kaffr corn has survived the
drought and so has rough sorghum The
result will be that while the cattle will have
a. much food as before they will have TO put
UP with the rough variety.
Everywhere ono goes ono can see great
fields of waving corn. The stalks are Just
az green as ever. and their tassels wave
just as proudly in the air, In many in
stances ears are missing, hut in others they
are as prominent as ever. Kendall 4
Smith, millers and cattle feeders, have a
4OO-acro field a few miles north of Lincoln.
To all appearances the corn IA just as good
as in any previous year. The stalks are
tall, the leaves tall and straight, the tassel
erect. the ear seemingly perfect. The
foreman was proud in the belief that his
field had not suffered like those Of his
neighbors. Mr. Kendall was sceptical.
The foreman proudly pulled of few ears.
When they we're husked there was not on
an average two dozen scattered grains
on a cob. The cattle have been turned
into that field.
For hogs, the farmers are sowing rape,
lat ha yph
and rye pastures are furnishing some sub
sistence. The scientists at the State Farm
have been making experiments with the
idea that they can evolve a grain ration that
will take the place OF hay and fodder and be-
less costly
The far-reaching effects Of the drought
are illustrated by the fact that II has even
affected greatly the growth Of the sugar
beets. This is especially true in the North
Platte region, where the beets have been
deprived in many instances OF all of their
foliage. This causes the beet TO run small,
from three to five ounces, and greatly re-
duces the sugar yield. A dry-root rot has
set In in some localities. and United States
special agent has been trying to find out
its cause and stop II.
The grasshopper, which has been try
ing the edible qualities OF about every
field plant attacked the sugar beet this
year and has given the growers consider
aDle trouD'e' Inc uoler anu inc heroSehe
pan have been successfully used against
Il.
Secretary Wilson'S suggestion TO plant
cahalgre IL being taken up in earnest.
This Is a plant used in tanning and Is OF
a drought-resisting quality that is rather
attractive TO farmers, Just now smarting
under the total loss Of their corn crop.
The best that corn will possibly do Is
a third Of a crop, and even this possibility
Is being gradually sssened by the con-
penetrating rain has fallen since july 20.
and the rain on that date was the first since
July T. This fact makes 1t absolutely
necessary for the farmers TO find some
substitute for corn that will enable them
TO keep their cattle alive and make fatten-
ing profitable.