Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1906-06-22
AarifmItmraI.
PUMPKINS FOR LIVE STOCK.

As usually grown, pumpkins are q
very cheap hog feed and serve most
excellent purpose while they last. This
time is determined by the volume Of
the crop and the conditions Of the
weather Not many farmers that grow
them in large quantities are disposed TO
give them shelter and care against the
weather, but feed them in large quaint
ties while they last. As they are usual
ly grown as catch crop in the corner,
they are the most uncertain crop pro-
duced on the farm. They are truly
American in their nature, for they go
to extremes. When there is a crop it is
nearly always bumper one; il fail
ure, it is at the other extreme.
Pumpkins gil an excellent place in
fall and winter hog feeding. When
starting hogs on green corn. if they are
fed part ration of pumpkins there is
not nearly so much danger of evil re-
suits as if fed corn alone. But by OBJ
servation am led to believe that few
farmers exercise the judgment they
should when feeding them. If they are
plentiful it is too often the custom to
haul a wagon load to the hog lot and
throw them all out at once, allowing the
hogs to feed on them at will
A hog will stall on pumpkins and go
of feed, as we'll rs on any other ration,
hence it is mistake to throw so many
to them when they are unaccustomed to
eating them. It is waste of time and
is expensive in other ways to cook them
for swine or any other stock.
In feeding them to hogs have found
quantities that they will finish eating
before they leave them. Feed the
pumpkins before tho corn ration is fed
| never thought that full feed Of
pumpkins cut down their appetite for
corn /; but give them full feed of corn
before feeding the pumpkins and they
will care little for the pumpkins
clear example of an instance in hog
feeding, when the dessert should come
FIRST.
When the crop cannot DO fed out be-
fore cold weather they can be carried a
considerable length of time by protect
ing them with straw or in pens sur
rounded with fodder, as we'll as covered
with this product.
There is no feed on the farm that
seems to hasten the fattening of an old
COW like a liberal supply of pumpkins.
The milch cows are very fond of them,
seeds and all. It is folly to take the
seeds out of those fed to the COWS IF
q COW was fed a full ration of seed for
long period she would probably get too
fat to be Of value at the pail. as she
would if fed unlimited quantities Of
corn, but when she eats the whole
pumpkin there can be no danger along
this line.
Pumpkins make a most excellent part
ration for fattening lambs, and one they
relish very much when they have learn
ed to cat them. By slicing them with
corn knife and putting in the feed
troughs or racks and then sailing lit
tie, the whole flock can be taught in
three or four days to eat them. Then
if fed in limited quantities they will
come to them with relish and clean up
at once.
Horses in the same manner can eat
them, and after they have once learned
never seem to tire Of them, and will fat
ten very rapidly il they have liberal
allowance along with their other feed
For many years | tried every corn
planting time in all my corn6elds to get
a pumpkin crop by putting seed 10 the
planter with the corn. Then | used the
hand lever for dropping. If the seed
caught in the slides no particular harm
was done. Now that | use check
sower l am afraid to mix the pumpkin
seed with the corn, lest they would cause
trouble, aud, besides, sometimes | want
to drill rye in the corn before it is cut,
in which case the vines would be in the
way For this reason they have about
dropped out of use on this farm. Ex-
cept for this latter reason | would still
try each year to grow them. and would
be glad to have them in their season
for all the stock on the farm, even the
chickens. for they like them when found
cut open 10 their houses And some
way the humans come in for share and
manage to keep them well along into
the winter, with care that would moi
pay when used as stock food New