Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1908-05-26

| for successful growth materially, and
am looking for it to become one of the
principal protein dairy feeds in the neaI
future.
CLOVER.
Glover has a larger natural habitat
than alfalfa, and its use is increasing
among dairy feeders. With the lining
of soils and shorter rotations 1t Is des.
tined to much more extended use. II
gives two cuttings in season, the sec.
ond a little better than the first; the
first cutting usually containing about IL
per cent of protein and the second some
times as high as 16 per cent. The max
imum protein and minimum fibre con-
tent are obtained ON we'll titled, rich,
lime soils. The dark colored seeds con.
tain more nitrogen than the light, and
their use for seeding will tend to in-
crease the protein content of the fodder.
Dairy farmers are inclined to let clover
stand too long before cutting, and they
generally cure it too much by stirring
rather than in the bunch, as by the con-
tinued stirring much of the leaves and
finer portions of the plant are lost.
Pea hay comes next to clover in it's
content of protein, but is difficult to har-
vest and to cure. Still, peas afford an
excellent crop for soiling, and grown on
we'll prepared land, mixed with oats to
help keep them off the ground, they
yield large quantities of protein in sue
culent, nutritious form. With peas, as
with clover, there are two classes of
seeds, the dark colored seeds containing
per cent more protein than the light,
and their continued use tends to increas-
ing the protein content of the plant.
CORN FODDER.
Corn is the most easily grown forage
crop. 1t thrives in some of its varieties
over a larger area than any other, and
from its value as tillage crop becomes
of much Importance to dairy farming.
A greater knowledge of its feeding value
and the best methods for growing and
curing is still necessary. Green fodder
(the entire plant) may contain as high as
90 per cent of water; fairly mature and
still green, it may contain as little as 90
per cent.
Corn fodder grown under favorable
soil conditions may contain 0 per cent
of protein; an actual gain of per cent
is obtained on we'll manured land. Corn
stover of good quality will contain per
cent of protein. Corn and clover, grown
in abundance, help to make the dairy
man producer instead of purchaser of
dairy protein feeds.
OTHER FORAGE PLANTS.
Millet, grown under good soil condi-
tions, has as much protein as corn stover
grown on poor soil, it has low protein
content. Timothy hay from highly
manured soil contains 25 per cent more
protein than when grown on poor soil.
When grown under poor conditions 1t
may have no more protein than straw.
Potatoes may have 8 per cent OF pro-
tein. They have larger proportion of
dry matter and less fibre than any other
root. They are the most readily eaten
BY all animals, and have beneficial
effect upon digestion, assisting in the
assimilation of other and coarser foods.
Mangels, turnips, rutabagas and car
rots carry from to IA of protein. They
may be cheaply grown, and they afford
variety and a help in dispOsing of
other foods.
With good tillage and wise selection
of crops in rotation, and by studying the
improvement of seeds. the dairyman
may become more and more independent
of outside sources of food supply; may
produce larger variety and better
class of forage crops, and thereby in.
crease his output and his profits and
improve his herds.-B. Walker McKeen,
Fryeburg, Me-, in Tribune Farmer.