104 ClA/VER CULTURE. 



quires labor to handle the grain and fodder after husking and 

 to return the stalks to the field in the shape of manure. In the 

 greater part of the United States this will pay. There are 

 portions, however, where the cornfields are very large and the 

 supply of stock limited where as yet this method of saving 

 fodder is not believed to be profitable, and the question before 

 us now is, how these stalks can be used to the best advantage. 

 Corn stalks in therr best estate, before bleached by rain, and 

 the leaves in which, with the husks, most of the nitrogenous 

 compounds are found, have a ratio of 1:14.7, a very wide ratio 

 it will be seen, which becomes wider, that is, the proportion 

 of carbohydrates to albuminoids becomes greater, every day 

 after it is exposed to the weather. It is entirely practicable 

 for most farmers to have in the same field a clover meadow, and 

 to allow the second crop or aftermath to remain untouched 

 until after the corn is husked and the cattle are turned into the 

 corn field. This clover aftermath or second crop has, before 

 being damaged by winter's rain or frost,a ratio of 1:2.3. This 

 ratio becomes wider during the winter season, but it does not 

 widen as rapidly as that of the corn stalks. 



It is now plain to be seen that by using this second crop 

 for pasturage in connection with corn stalks, a very great 

 saving may be made for stock cattle or milk cows or horses, 

 by allowing them to consume both together, the excess oi 

 albuminoids in the clover balancing the excess of carbohy- 

 drates in the corn stalks, and together making a fairly good 

 winter pasture. No argument is needed by any farmer who- 

 has once tried this method. Nor is it alone in the balancing 

 up of the ration that the benefit consists. There is very little 

 danger of compaction of the stomach whe,re cattle have free 

 access to this clover aftermath, nor is there any danger from 

 bloating from the clover. 



Every farmer who is extensively engaged in growing 

 wheat, oats or barley has, at his command, a large amount of 

 straw which is either burnt (a wasteful habit which can not 

 be too strongly condemned) or stacked and allowed to rot on 

 the fields, or perhaps used for bedding. This has a ratio of 

 1:29 in case f wheat straw; 1:30 in case of oats; 1:34 in case 

 of rye, with a probable average ratio of 1 132. The stock re- 

 quire a ratio of say i :8. It will be seen that if the animal is 

 to increase in size and weight or even repair the waste of 

 muscular tissue, it must consume a very large amount of the 

 straw to get sufficient for the purpose. This straw has to be 

 wet with a large amount of water, the water has to be brought 



