PUMPKINS AND FRUITS 75 



and consequently are less suitable for swine. In this respect potatoes 

 are far superior. Swine may receive 2 to 4 pounds of roots per day 

 to advantage. In times of potato scarcity the root rations may be in- 

 creased to 24 pourfds. The result in fat production is fairly satisfactory. 

 If roots are fed in large quantity they should be cut or crushed and 

 cooked or steamed before feeding. The water is retained and the mass 

 mixed with the supplementary ration. The latter may consist of one- 

 third concentrates rich in protein (fish-meal, tankage or dry yeast) and 

 two-thirds in the form of cracked grain and bran. For horses and cat- 

 tle root crops must be liberally supplemented with concentrates and 

 roughage. Horses and cattle take them raw, cut into small pieces and 

 mixed with chaffed straw or chaffed hay. For swine they may be 

 given raw or steamed. 



Squash and pumpkins are fed to sheep and milk cows raw and chopped, 

 and cooked for mast for cattle and swine. They are not suitable for 

 horses on account of large water content, but when given in large 

 quantity have been observed to cause poisoning with symptoms of al- 

 ternating depression and excitability, stertorous breathing, mydriasis, 

 fever, reddening of the mucous membranes, muscular trembling and 

 suppressed peristalsis. 



Apples and pears are very wholesome for animals, provided they are 

 not excessively decayed. Plums in moderate amounts are also health 

 promoting. Ingestion of excessive amounts by pigs have caused prus- 

 sic acid poisoning with excessive vomiting. As is well known, the 

 pits of plums contain no inconsiderable amount of prussic acid. 



The roots of Triticum re pens (couch grass, quick grass) might also 

 be mentioned in this connection. Their feeding value corresponds to 

 that of the best clover hay. In harvesting especial care should be ob- 

 served in removing all particles of earth or sand. This is accomplished 

 by harvesting in dry weather and subsequent screening or running 

 through a thresher, or through manipulation with a pitchfork. 



They are fed fresh to swine and cattle, mixed with straw and hay for 

 the latter. 



They are a valuable winter feed when dried. Special machinery ex- 

 ists for the separation of the tufted plants. After being thus reduced 

 in size the material is dried out of doors or in special drying apparatus. 

 As a dry winter feed they are chaffed and used for horses and cattle. 



Couch grass is a vile weed in fields and gardens and its extermina- 

 tion is best accomplished by pasturing with sheep. 



Translator's addition: The cliitfa {Cyt>crns csculcntus) should also be mentioned 

 here. The chufa sedge, frequently a weed on southern farms, produces numerous 

 small chaffy edible tubers. They are relished by pigs, which are usually turned in to 

 harvest the crop. As chufas are low in digestible crude protein, feeds rich in 

 protein should be added to balance the ration. They grow best on light sandy soils, 

 yielding from 100 to 150 bushels of 44 pounds each per acre. Like artichokes, the 

 tubers remain in the ground uninjured through the winter. Good crops of chufas 



