Seo. 30 



COWS— FEEDING ROOTS. 



39 



the engine empties into tlie cliamber, and the hay is steamed for about a 

 quarter of an liour, and then fed to the stock unmixed with meal — that is, 

 given in tlie form of a warm mash. 



37. Sugar-t'aiic for Cows. — If the Chinese sngar-cane does not prove to 

 be a profitable sugar-making jilant, we tliink it will be a profitable one for 

 forage. The Homestead says that Deacon Edward Ilayden, of East Hartford, 

 Conn., has raised the Chinese sugar-cane for two years, and has used it for 

 feeding milch cows with great success. Tlie first year the stalks were left 

 in the field, scattered about, we believe, and occasionally in dry weather 

 brought to the barn to the cows, which ate them up clean, stalks and all. This 

 was merely a sort of accidental experiment, as no especial value was set upon 

 the canes. The past year he raised more, shocked in the field, and left it 

 there. It cured well, and the cows ate it with great avidity, and Mr. Hay- 

 den esteems it as a great milk-producing diet. 



38. Feeding Roots. — I have a word to say on M-inter feed for stock. It is 

 more by way of query, and for feeders to think of, than by way of instruc- 

 tion. My experience in feeding domestic animals is not sufiicient to warrant 

 me in giving instruction. I have served my time in too rough a school for 

 that. I have fed a good deal of hay, worth from $1 50 to $5 a tun ; and 

 corn from 10 to 25 cents a bushel, and other grain in proportion, and 

 straw absolutely valueless. While living in such a district, I have often 

 been asked the question, Why I did not raise more roots for my cattle? I 

 answered : Simply because it would not pay. I did buy a lot of ruta bagas 

 one autumn, delivered at my house at six cents a bushel, and the use of them 

 taught me that they were dear food. I would now, if living in such a dis- 

 trict, feed roots to stock just so far as I thought necessary to keep the animals 

 in good health, and no more ; not if I could buy at the same price, which 

 was one fourth the price of sound corn ; and I question the economy of feed- 

 ing any kind of roots at the same rate of value to any greater extent than is 

 required for health. That roots, particularly white turnips, arc too largely 

 fed in cold weather to young cattle, I have no doubt. The}' are so full of 

 water that too much of it is taken into the stomach with the food. If roots, 

 or any other watery food, are too largely fed to milch cows before and after 

 calving, you will be sure to have a mean calf If we will think, and take 

 reason for a guide, as to what man requires for healthy food, we shall nut go 

 far wrong with domestic animals. Man likes roots occasionally, and so ho 

 does soup, or other slopjiy food ; but what M'ould lie be good for if fed week 

 after week upon such watery stuff as turnips, or such porridge as some i)eople 

 compel their cattle to eat ? After all, this question of winter feeding is a 

 question of values ; and it is not ahme the value, counted by first cost, but 

 the value of results. Now, wliat is the use of giving my opinion tiiat this or 

 that kind of food is the best, or most economical, when I can not say of a 

 single thing, I l-noir. I don't know, and don't know anybody who does. 

 It is all guess-work, and at the present price of cattle-food, it is expensive 

 guessing. 



