Miscellaneous Feeding Stuffs. 219 



the Wisconsin Station ^ by Craig show that rape has a very con- 

 siderable value for feeding swine, especially during the earlier 

 stages of fattening. This feed is much relished by pigs. Being 

 succulent it distends the digestive tract and prepares it for the 

 heavier grain feeding which follows. 



It is on sheep farms that rape will find its largest use. It can 

 be fed to all classes of sheep with advantage, and since the animals 

 harvest the crop the cost of feeding it is insignificant compared 

 with the returns. Yv^ithin eight weeks after seeding the plants 

 are large enough for use, and they are then fed off by turning the 

 sheep directly into the field to gather the forage at will. Craig, 

 of the Wisconsin Station, 2 makes the following recommendations: 

 "The attempt should never be made to feed lambs rape without 

 giving them a couple of hours grazing on pasture before turning 

 them into the rape. This is necessary for the safety of the lambs, 

 as they are otherwise very liable to bloat, and the combined feed- 

 ing of pasture and rape results in greater gains. ' ' 



The rape crop, which will probably grow anywhere in the 

 United States at some season of the year, is recommended to 

 farmers and stockmen as well worthy of trial, since it is produced 

 at small expense for seed and culture and yields an immense 

 amount of nutritious forage, the flavor and succulence of which 

 are highly appreciated by cattle, especially sheep and swine. 

 (656, 767-769, 879) 



336. Acorn. — In some of the forests of Europe this crop has 

 considerable value for swine feeding, and is usod to a limited 

 extent in this country. The influence of acoms on the flesh of 

 swine is uncertain, some asserting that the pork from acorn- fed 

 swine is satisfactory, while others affirm that it is soft and un- 

 desirable. 



337. Leaves and twigs. — The small branches and leaves of 

 trees are fed regularly to farm animals in the mountain regions of 

 Europe where herbage is scarce, and in case of failure of pastures 

 or the hay crop they have been extensively used elsewhere. 

 Twigs contain about fifty per cent, digestible components, mostly 

 non-nitrogenous substances. They contain from forty to fifty per 



* Bui. 68. * Loc. cit. 



