The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1904-05-31
Wedding N MANAGEMENT OF LIVE STOCK.
Wedding Stuffs.

In the preceding articles of this series,
the writer has attempted to discuss some of the
scientific phases of the feeding question, because
upon these rests the successful practice of feed
ing in just the same way that a knowledge of the
underlying principles of plant food in the use
of commercial fertilizers in a judicious and eco
nomic way must be considered when plants are
fed. 1t is now our purpose to examine feeding
stufs from the standpoint of adaptability, and the
methods of preparing the same.
1t is readily seen that all feeding stuffs vary
greatly in their n~utritive constituents, also in
their disestibility and in the degree in which
they are relished by different animals. These va
~riations are caused by such influences as the diff
ferent soils in which they are grown; the different
methods by which they are cultivated; the differ
enct methods by which they are harvested, and the
different methods by which they are prepared by
the feeder for consumption. Feeding stuffs, for
instance, vary greatly in their n%utritive %constitu-
encies, as is seen when young and growing plants
are fed, and the feeding of these same plants when
they are old and mature. Young and growing
plants contain, relatively to their solid matter
more heterogeneous substances than those matured,
since the removal of the seed takes with it a good
deal of heterogeneous substance previously formed
and deposited in the stems and leaves. For this
reason it is always advisable to harvest such hay
crops as clover, timothy, and orchard grass be-
fore they have matured their seed, otherwise a
good deal of the feeding value will be lost. The
feeding stuffs are also more d~igestible in the
early stages of their development. As plants grow
older, much of their feeding value is changed into
more or less woody fibre which is not only not
palatable, but little digested and of little use
to the animal. Ordinarily, a pasture while still
succulent, is in itself a perfect food. In this
sense it is a complete ration and can be taken as
a guide for feeding our various classes of animals.
When pasture grass is in its prime, there is no
necessity for feeding other food stuffs along with
it. In early spring it is best to feed but half of
the days ration of pasture, and the other half
in the form of some dry succulent food, until
the animals is used to it's food, and until the pas
ture becomes a little dryer in nature. When sum-
mer comes on and dry and hot weather arrive, the
pasture becomes dry and somewhat withered, and
then we are often troubled with the lack of sue
culent food for best growth and best milk produc-
ton. When this is the case, it is advisable to
feed some succulent food along with the pasture.
For dairy cows, nothing is better than green corn.
1t has always been our practice to plant a small
area of corn as early in the spring as possible.
The corn is planted in rows four feet apart, and
the grains distributed in tows every three, four
and five inches. One or two acres will be sufici-
ent to provide green corn for forty or fifty head
of cattle for sometime. Since a good deal of
water and plant food is needed for growing such
a 7heavy growth, it is advisable to select an area
that is naturally moist and fertile, and to give it
the best possible attention. This area of corn is
attended in the same way that the corn fields on
the farm are cultivated. If attention is given to
this, the farmer will have green corn ready for
II. ss II IL I'll FL
until September.