Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-09-26
GROW feed FOR CATTLE
ia Expensive to Buy Food When
sethers Can Be Raised on the
&c. " 2. Gilbert, Agricultural Sta
ton. Canada,)

very llIHllSu, ADul even dl ITO SAioopSSN
It Is an expensive business.
A man who produces milk or pork
may be able to keep larger number
by the aid of purchased food, than
would be possible under any other
conditions; indeed. he may be enabled
to keep stock of this class, and the
same remark applies to horses. with
out occupying any land whatever; but
the farmer is in a different position.
By purchasing food to feed MS
stock. he is able to liberate certain
amount Of the produce he grows for
sale. Tho question arises. however,
whether it is not now economical to
consume what he grows, and to buy
.ess, or indeed, to buy none at all.
In very many cases this is quite pos
sible, acd considerable advantage
would result from the practice.
But the question is, what should be
grown for stock. when the practice of
purchasing food Is not carried out?
The leading food constituents Of farm
crops, are the albumenoids, formerly
called the flesh powers, but which
have the most important influence In
providing the red portion or muscle OF
meat and milk: the carbohydrates
chiefly composed of starch. sugar and
ceilulose, tho material of which the
walls of the cells of plants are formed
and fat and oil.
Now it happens that on a farm the
one constituent the farmer grows in
greatest quantity is the carbohydrates,
which is abundant in all plants and In
purcha sing food, It is the constituent.
which he. therefore, requires least. AS
a matter Of fact. the chief object in
buying foods Is to obtain the alpumen-
old matter, and the OIL the latter be-
ing chiefly essential in the case of fat
tening beasts.
The chief function of starch. sugar
and oil. is the provision Of heat, which
must be acquainted at q given point. If
an animal is to remain in health.
What the farmer requires then. in
greater abundance on the farm, is the
al5umenoid portion Of food.
This Is present in starch and roots,
as well as in second-class hay. in COM
paratively small quantities, but it is
present in all the leguminous plants.
'lo-crs. alfalfa. vetches peas and
'@"ns. in abundance. hence any In
use in these crops is an immense
y. and by their aid, there is no
laa@on Why, upon a large number of
sr".re the food account should not be
~ e.! out.
I is most important In the first
-" &C. to improve the feeding value Of
10 grass land: the albu;nenoids in the
,-i'&SseS proper, are small in compare
son. With the proportion present in the
aioTcrs. If. therefore, the clover por-
ion OF the heritage Of a pasture can
be increased the feeding value of the
whole. will be increased and it may be,
vets bulk as we'll. Many growers arc
accustomed to manure grass land
literally with heterogeneous manure.
This increases the grasses, but at the
expense of the clovers.
If, however. mineral manures are
employed instead, the clovers will be
Increased and If the land is grazed, the
increased richness of the manure in
nitrogen. which Is more abundant in
The clover plant. will influence the
grasses.
1t is important that grass lana
should receive the greatest attention
rs its influence on the stock is, per-
maps. greater than the other, both
through the medium Of the grass in
summer and hay in winter. A great
help. however, may be given to the
stock. as we'll as to the economy of
the farm by the production Of a few
acres OF the best OF all forage crops
production.
Alfalfa which is grown for less than
it ought to be. and why, it Is difficult
to understand. 1t may be somewhat
tender but when established, will af-
ford three or four cuttings in the year
for several years. producing probably
two and a half times as much feeding
material, and that of very superior
quality, to either pasture or meadow
grass. The soil must be dry, at the
same time the plant should be grown
in a sheltered position. preferably on
alluvial soil loan containing lime.
The alfalfa plant has a double ad.
vantage. for it is the most abundan;
of crops in a season of drought, the
roots extending to such a depth in the
soil. that it finds moisture and affords
magnificent cuts when everything else
is dried up. Where it forms part of G
pasture it grows SO rapidly that it is
ready for second cut before the re.
naming heritage seems to have started
growth. A farmer cannot be advised
than to try this crop it surely has beer
proved by now, and If he determines
upon trying it, the land should b.
plowed before heavy frost, that it ma,
be thoroughly pulverized
Vetches as food for stock, cannot b.
overestimated. The one difficult thint
rtout the vetches Is. that it is prac
iically single cut plant. If crop i
cut carly and before it ceases CROWN.
i Will come a second time with
snail growth. but this is not reall,
worth consideration. A succession o
yetches may be grown, SO that the
may be at the disposal of the grove
- TO .E.a fall
Argentina. which is becoming a for
ii -, Y,,tS 1I