450 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



mills. Mixed with corn, oats, or brini, it is niiicli .sujierior to citlier ;iloiio for work- 

 ing horses. Fed to cows, it is an exceptional milk producer, and lor that i)ur- 

 poso corn is scarcely to ho compared with it. 



"For swine of all a<;<'s, it is a healthful and agreeahlcfood, giving generous returns 

 in both framework and ilesh, but fed whole, esjiecially without soaking, is used at a 

 disadvantage. Ground and made into slops it is invaluable for suckling sows, and 

 for pigs both before and after weaning. 



" For cattle, it has, at least as apart of their grain ration, a very high value, which 

 is much enhanced in the line of needed variety by mixing with corn, and in a still 

 greater degree by mixing judiciously with bran, oil cake, or other albuminous food 

 tending to balance the too carbonaceous nature of tlie clear wheat. 



"With corn and wheat approximating the same price per bushel it is not uni)rotit- 

 able nor wicked to feed the wheat; yet, if it can be ground, rolled, crushed, or in 

 some way broken at a total cost not exceeding 5 to 7 cts. per bushel, to feed it whole 

 and dry is unwise. It can be ground at a cost of 5 cts. per bushel, and on a majority 

 of Kansas farms for A'ery miich less. 



"If grinding is impracticable, soaking for 24 to 36 hours (the length of time depend- 

 ing somewhat upon the weather and season), is for variousreasous deemed desirable, 

 but IS injudicious to any extent that its being moist facilitates swallowing without 

 the inasticatiou or the proper mixing with saliva. Any arrangement or system of 

 feeding by which the grain was delivered in such a way that the animal could eat 

 but slowly would largely overcome this defect. 



"It is a superior food for all fowls, and as a promotor of the inaximum egg-produc- 

 tion is unsurpassed by any other grain." 



The fattening of cattle, J. W. Koeektson {Canada Expil. Farms 

 Rpt. 1893, pp. 64-71). — An experiment with steers begun in 1889 and 

 continued for 3 years. Part of the data has been given. (E. S. K., 4, p. 

 440). The object was to compare (1) silage, hay, and roots; (2j hay 

 and roots; and (3) silage when fed with a constant grain ration. 



The conclusions from the 3 years' test are: 



"(1) On an average the steers which were fed oil corn silage, straw, and meal gained 

 in weight 35.8 lbs. more per head and cost 5.38 cts. less per head per day for feed 

 consumed than the steers which were fed upon hay, roots, straw, and meal. 



" (2) On the average of 2 years the cost for feed. consumed for 100 lbs. of increase 

 in live weight was 64.64 per cent greater on hay, roots, straw, and meal than it was 

 on corn silage, straw, and meal." 



In a trial with 1 and 2-year-old steers fed 20 lbs. of cut hay, 40 lbs. 

 of roots (mangel wnrzels, turnips, and carrots), and 5 lbs. of straw, or 

 50 lbs. of corn silage and 5 lbs. of cut straw, with a constant grain 

 ration of equal parts of barley, peas, and frosted wheat, the result was 

 as follows: 



"(1) During the feeding period of 24 wrecks the steers which were fed upon corn 

 silage, straw, and meal gained in weight on the average 19 lbs. jjer head more ami 

 cost 5.06 cts. jjer head less per day for feed consumed than the steers which were fed 

 upon hay, roots, straw, aud meal. 



"(2) The cost for feed consumed per 100 ll>s. of increase in live weight was 66.34 

 per cent greater on hay, roots, straw, and meal than it was on corn silage, straw, and 

 meal." 



A similar trial with calf steers resulted as follows : 



"(1) During the feeding period of 18 weeks the steers which were fed upon corn 

 silage, straw, and meal gained in weight on the average 16 lbs. per head less and 



