4(J Bureau of Farmers' Institutes. 



A Farmer. — Cook the beans and mix them with bran. The 

 cow's will eat them all right in that way. 



Another Farmer. — I am feeding beans to horses. They eat 

 them well and seem to do nicely. 



The question brought out a variety of opinions, some radically 

 diiferent. 



Question. — Can sorghum be raised successfully in this country, 

 and is it a profitable crop for feed? 



Mr. Creenon. — I have raised sorghum ; that which I sowed, 

 did well ; that which was planted, did not. We sowed two bushels 

 of seed to the acre, and got more food from an acre than from 

 corn. It was cut just as it began to turn a yellow color, and cured 

 as hay. The cattle ate it all and gave a nice mess of milk. The 

 stalks were about the size of a lead pencil. 



Question. — Are turnips a comparatively valuable crop for live- 

 stock, considering cost ? 



Mr. Litchard. — I think they are for sheep. The Canadians 

 are far ahead of us in that direction. But, if a man can raise 

 good corn, and can have ensilage, he will not need turnips or beets. 



Question. — What is the difference in feeding value of corn 

 and wheat bran? 



Mr. Woodward. — The two do not compare. Corn is a fatten- 

 ing food, bran a growing one. One is fed to produce heat and 

 fat, the other to produce muscle, bone and blood. To get best 

 results corn and bran should be combined. Corn, when fed to 

 an excess, will fatten the cow and dry up her milk; bran will help 

 to keep up the milk flow. Corn is principally starch, while bran 

 contains but three parts of it to one of protein. 



Question. — What do you consider a good ration for cows in 

 milk? 



Mr. Smith. — Corn ensilage, wheat bran, clover hay, linseed meal 

 or gluten meal, ground oats, cotton seed meal, and alfalfa, are 

 good foods for the purpose. 



Question. — When is the best time to feed grain to cows, before 

 or after feeding hay? 



Mr. Woodward. — We feed our cows the first thing in the morn- 

 ing ; then the cows are milked, and the ensilage fed, the grain hav- 

 ing been sprinkled on the ensilage. Straw is fed at noon ; hay 

 again before milking, and the ensilage and grain afterwards, at 

 night. 



Question. — How much water does a cow need daily? 



Mr. Smith. — It will depend on the cow, her foods and other 



