Year: 1873

Farm, Garden and Household,

 Feeding Meal to Cattle

 The stomach of ruminant animals is a compound organ. It is divided into four compartments. When grass, hay, or any coa.s food is eaten by the ru- minant, it passes, after a partial masti- z cation, down the esophagus, or meat pipe, and is lodged in the ruman, or first stomach, more commonly called the puncil. It is retained ill this receptacle or reservoir till the animal has leisure to remasticate it. It docs not lie at rest, but is constantly stirred up and kept in motion by the peristaltic action of the sack that contains it, and is mix ed up and softened with mucus by this means and by fermentation, pre- paration IS made for the work of diges- tion, if it is not in the strictest sense actually here begun. For the purpose of reconsideration, according to Youatt, 1t is gradually moved into the secon nd stomach, honey-comb bag, and then by spasmodic motion to the mouth. After sufficient tmastication it is swallow ed again but instead of going back.to the place from which it is raised, or to the receptacle where it went the first time it was swallowed, it now goes, ac- eording to the authority just cited, to ] the third stomach, or maniplies, where it undergoes a further and material change, and thence to the last division, or fourth stomach, where the process of digestion is completed. Though diges- tion proper is only carried on in the fourth division of the stomach, it lis evident that the action of the other divisions of that compound organ is useful to the digestive process or they would not have been placed where they are. That the changes wrought upon the food in passing through the several . divisions hasten and perfect the action of the true (fourth) stomach, can hardly be questioned.

 Land for a Cow.

 s We asked two experienced Wisconsin dairymen, says farmers journal. How many COWS will good dairy farm of l6O acres support in average seasons, keeping besides only the horses needed, and, perhaps, a few hogs to use up whey, Sc. One, who has been many years in the business-as this was in private conversation we do not mention names-said that on his farm of that size, on which were twenty acres thickly covered with timber and worthless for pasture, he could keep forty. The others estimate was forty also for the 160 acres. Of course both included the use of such land as was necessary for the usual orchard, garden, &c., but not for the production of anything for sale except the products of the COW in milk, or the cheese or butter made from the milk. Both of the dairymen to whom we refer believe heartily in the value of sowed corn, believing it cheaper feed than hay. One says he would want one and half acres of pasture for each COW, to last till after having. After that time he pastures the meadows, and feeds green corn fodder, &c., with the usual pasturage. The other would have two and half acres of pasturage for each COW for the whole season, also feeding corn fodder in. the Fall He so plants this that while it produces a large amount of stalks and leaves, it also manures considerableIquantity of corn. On this feed he relies largely for the winter feed.

 Feeding for Milk and Butter.

 In feeding cows for milk and butter the following suggestions were made at the Maine Agricultural Society Raise your own cows, do not buy them; strange animals are ill-treated and often injured. Iii you wish to get all the milk possible, feed high, and in two years 7you can drive all the milk out of a COW '-on the contrary, feed moderately and many COWS will hold out until they are 21- . several instances were mentioned. Cows treated kindly will not be vicious. No rule for feeding them can be of univer- sal application, their constitutions must be regarded as much as in the human race. Abundant testimony was given Tn favor of fodder corn-with prefer ence for sweet, although Southern corn yielded the most. One herd had been wlntered on it thus far-cut with a hay cutter-two quarts shorts and two quarts cob meal added. After fodder corn is well cured, pack closely in the barn, as COWS will not eat it if it is too dry. One milk producer stated that he could not make 1t pay to use the highest priced hay; he preferred a poorer quality and more neal In reviewing some dozen experiences, no allusion can be found to the use of cooked food for dairy COWS.

 Training Steers. .

 One used to handling steers with a view to making oxen or them says i: Steers handle and yoke up the first winter, before they are year old, and during the following summer, to ac- custom them to the yoke and to walk side by side evenly together. The second winter put them to light sled, and put small rope round the nigh one's horn, not to guide them, but to secure them from running away from me by somesudden fright or some other cause. then, with light, short whip, proceed to teach them to draw, to go forward, to stop, to haw and gee. I use few words with them and few motions of the whip, not trying to teach them too many things at once When they are g little older, I teach them to back by choosing piece of edecending ground for that purpose, with the empty sled or cart for load. never try to plough without driver till the steers are four years old.