Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1910-09-25
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SAVING OF STRAW.

The following article which appear
ed in the last issue of the Dakots
Farmer, entitled "Shipping Straw
Eastward" is from the pen OF Prof
Thos. Shaw. 1t is of especial inter
est to the North Dakota farmer:
1T is not improbable that there
will be a considerable movement II
straw the present season. with nay
both scarce and dear, it would seen
to be a wise plan to make stra"
take the place of hay, at least to
certain extent, in feeding animals
This, at least, may apply to certain
kinds of straw, as oat straw and also
barley straw. Even wheat straw mas
a considerable feeding value when II
has been cut at the proper stage OF
ripening and has been properly saved
"The Great Northern Railroad has
taken up the question of carrying
straw at reduced rates in order to
give the farmers who have much
stock an opportunity to buy from
those who have none. The extent OF
this movement in straw cannot be
forecastcd at the present time, but
where the haul is not too long, 1t
should be perfectly feasible. OF
course, when other feed is plentiful
it will not pay, but the present sea-
son ia 40 far out of the ordinary that
it may pay in this instance.
III straw is thus shipped for feed
ing. it will be to feed dairy cattle
more than other cattle. At first
thought, it would seem absurd to feed
straw to dairy animals for the pro-
duction of milk, and it would be ab'
surd if the straw were fed alone, but
It may be made to serve good end
in such feeding. 1t may be used as
filling along with grain.
ITO feed it thus to the best advan-
tage it will be necessary to run 1t
through a cutting box. The grain or
meal to be fed along with it is mixed
with the cut straw. The straw Will
not in itself produce much milk, but
when the meal is thus fed along with
the straw, the influence exerted by
the presence of straw is helpful to
the digestion. 1t renders the mass
less compact than it would otherwise
he in the stomach, hence the gastric
Juices may act upon it more complete
". In the process of Illumination also'
ne meal becomes more Thoroughly
ground than would otherwise be the
case. In this way the straw may De
made to take the place of hay ana
other coarse folders.
1.-THE extent to which the shipping
of straw for such use may be car
ried on will depend, first, on the mar
ket value of hay and other coarse fod'
ders. Those who have to buy hay at
a cost. say. of $40 ton or more may
nrofitablv feed straw. 1t will depend,
second. on the cost of transportation.
The feeding value of straw is not
such as to justify large outlay for
carving it. In any event, however
the question is certainly of sufficient
Importance to merit investigation on
the part of those who have feed to
buy. They cannot afford to feed all
hav as fodder with the prices that
are going to rule the coming winter.
IF such shipments take place, II
will certainly be lesson to those
who have been burning straw-it may
be for successive years. 1t should
remind them of the value OF what
they have been burning. If. for IN
stance. the Minnesota farmer can at
ford to pay for straw shipped in from
say North Dakota, it will certainly
nay the farmer of North Dakota tc
nut his straw to some better use thar
that of turning it into ashes. 49,:
: In this same connection it is inter
esting to know that at the North La
kota agricultural college and experl
ment station the straw is being oaleo
and placed in the barn and Will DC
used for feed during the winter. The
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