Smyrna times., 1905-11-01
BEDDING FOR STABLES.
sawdust or ShavinGs Ideal For the
Comfort of the Dairy Cow.
By c. F. DoANE. MARYLAND.


By C. F. DOANE Maryland.
1t is not likely that sawdust is avail
able in many localities, but where it
can be procured it will cost about 1
cent per hundred pounds, which makes
it comparatively cheap bedding. 1t
must be said that the sawdust, every
thing considered, was the most salts
factory of the materials used in tests.
1t kept the cows cleaner than anything
else and stayed in place better, as it is
not as easily showed around as are the
straw and stover. 1t can be made to
look cleaner and neater than either of
the other materials and, unlike the
straw and stover, is entirely free from
dust. The only possible objection that
could be urged against it is that it car
ries so much moisture as to make it a
little damp. but it is very doubtful if
this has any bad effect The sawdust
from the pitch pines of the southern
states is said to have a bad effect on
the sandy soils of that section. The
sawdust decays slowly and has a tend
ency to loosen up a soil already too
loose. This objection would hardly
hold good outside of the pitch pine re-
gions or on clay land. Sawdust ma
nure is ideal for scattering on fields.
Sawdust or Shnvings.
Practically all that can be said in IA
vor of the sawdust is true of the shay
ings. and 1t is also quite dry. 1t is
without the Objectionable dust of straw
and stover. 1t makes a fine appear
ance. The only objection is that it is
light, and strong breeze blowing
through the stable is likely to scatter
it, but ordinarily 1t stays under the
cows well and is not easily showed
about The shavings used come bailed
and cost about $6 to 81 per ton in car
lots. The test shows that it would re-
quire about LOO pounds per COW for
year.
For the strictly sanitary dairy, saw
dust and snavings are the ideal bedding
materials, though the ordinary dairy
farmer could not be advised to buy
when he could raise either the straw or
the stover There Is a little dust in
shavings, but it would have no effect
on the wholesomenesS of the milk, as
the dust from the shavings is generally
small particles Of wood and seldom
| contains any molds or bacteria. AS
was stated before, the sawdust is damp
and has no dust. Moreover, both of
these materials keep the cows cleaner
and make stable look neater than Ell
ther the straw or the stover.
Rye Straw.
In the city markets rye straw sells
for about twice as much as any other
material intended for bedding. OF
course it is intended almost exclusively
for horses, and the double price paid
for it would indicate that horsemen
considered it just twice as desirable
for bedding. 1t is a little difficult to
get at the true reason. Farmers evi-
IDENTIFY prefer the wheat straw for both
horses and cows. 1t is very doubtful
If rye straw would prove at all salts
factory in a dairy stable. 1t is hard
and stiff, and in some tests made al
this station, with a separate and small.
er herd than the one used in the pre-
vious tests, about the same quantity OF
rye straw as Of wheat straw was used
but the cows did not keep in as clear
a condition. The rye straw apparently
was a very poor absorbent.
A NOncombatnnt.
81 didn't know you were in the choir
What's your position there?"
"Nentral'
"HOw do you meanY
} 81 don't side with either faction."-
Philadelphia Ledger.