Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1907-09-13
Tree-Growinx Bounty.

As told by the Pittsburg Chronlcle-Iel-
egraph, Mr.. Tenner has obtained from
the county commissioners a reduction
Of $3.50 on his taxes for complying
with the provisions Of the law.
1t Is rather remarkable that the Sec
ond county in that State In point or
population should be the first to pay
a bounty for forest preservation
the new law, but such is the case. The
land owner who preserves his woods
not only gets this Immediate reward,
but the increasing value Of the trees
will make a further and larger profit
for him eventually.
Digestion of Foods In Feeding.
A series of tests is reported by Storrs
Station, Connecticut, in which corn
meal and mixed hay in turn were FED
as a maintenance ration to two dry,
farrow cows. The results Of tests
with mich cows, pigs and calves are
also quoted and discussed for pur
poses Of comparison.
On an average 6.25 pounds OF corn
meal containing As pounds disestIble
nutrients was required for mainte-
nance by the farrow cows as compared
with 1915 pounds Of hay containing
IL pounds Of digestible nutrients;
that is, on an average 81 per cent
more dlgestible nutrients was required
for maintenance when derived from
hay than from corn meal. LESS oil
gestible nutrients from corn meal,
therefore, were required for mainte-
nance than from hay, because less en-
ergy of the feed was used in the work
Of digestion and assimilation" A
increase in the proportion Of grain to
%roughage in a ration for mich cows
Tin tests which were quoted) tends to
facilitate digestion, and is followed by
increased production"
A similar explanation will account
for the more rapid gain In the case OF
pigs and calves fed the more easily d.
gestible rations In the tests summar-
lied. In general, according to the au-
thor, "the value Of a feed depends
upon its composition, digestibility and
ease or facility Of digestion. The first
first two factors are considered In the
formulation Of rations. The third fac
tor has only recently been recognized,
and little definite knowledge In regard
1t Is at hand. In a general way 1t
Is recognized that milk Is more easily
| digested than meal, concentrates than
roughage, early than late cut hay, ST.
lage than corn stoVer, oat than rye
straw. A pound Of digestlble matter,
therefore, should be more valuable
In the former than in the latter"
Value of Sunf1over.
The sunflower, though it originated
In this country in the region of the
great plains, is not used so extensively
here as in some other countries, not.
ably Russia. 1t is n long time since
the plant first delighted the eyes OF
Europeans, being then cultivated in the
gardens of Madrid. The early Spanish
explorers had found it in this country
and taken it home with them.
The plant was utilized by the Ameri'
can Indians long before the days OF
Columbus. When ~Champlain visited
the Georgian Bay in 1915 he found the
natives growing it and using the oil fol
their hair. 1t was raised chiefly, how
ever, for the food afforded by h seeds
In Russia at the present day the
seeds are eaten In immense quantities
raw or roasted, as peanuts are ir
America, and tho oil obtained by press
ing the seeds is an important article
Of diet. The frequent religious fast
days in that country restrict the use Of
meat and lead to a large consumption
of vegetable oil. The manufacture Of
1 sunfiower oil has consequently grown
to considerable dimensions. The best
seeds yield an oil that compares IA
vorably with olive oil for table pur
poses.
Even the upper classes in Russia ea'
the seeds, the larger and finer ones be
ing quite equal to most nuts in respect
of p%alatability and wholesomeness
The stalks and dried leaves are highl.
priced for fuel, being in some parts O
the empire almost the only availabl,
substitute for wood. An acre of sur
flowers will yield many cords Of goot
fuel.
The oil appears to have more Of th'
general properties OF olive oil than haj
any other known vegetable oil. I
takes about a bushcl of seeds to max
a gallon OF Oil, and fifty bushels 0
seeds can be grown on one acre Of land
As the oil sells at 81 a gallon, the prof
is large.
OF late years purified sunflower oil
has been used extensively to adulterat
olive oil. 1t is Of a pale yellowlsl
color and decidedly palatable. In
crude state 1t is used by painters t
some extent, but it Is inferior t lin
seed oil for use In paint.
In addition to the OIL from the seeds
the stalks, when green, and the oil
cake make excellent FODDER. The ibe
Of the stalks, which Is fine, silky an
very strong, also has a value. L
China 1t is wove into beautiful
fabrics, and 1t is believed that, by us
OF proper machinery, it might be utl
lied most probably In this country.