342 FEEDING FARM ANIMALS 



the sole crop occupying the land. The small varieties are gen- 

 erally used as food for man, but more commonly the large 

 varieties are fed to the various classes of animals kept upon 

 the farm. The use of the binder in cutting corn will prob- 

 ably tend to lessen the growth of pumpkins in this crop, as 

 unless removed in advance of the binder, they are much li- 

 able to be broken by the same. They are easily injured by 

 frost, and when so injured will soon spoil, hence, the aim 

 should be to feed them in the autumn and early winter, as 

 the labor of storing them is considerable in proportion to 

 their feeding value. Those immature will decay more read- 

 ily than pumpkins fully matured, hence, the aim should be 

 to feed them first. When feeding pumpkins, they are usu- 

 ally cut open with the spade, and for some kinds of feeding 

 are cut into smaller pieces. 



For cattle of all classes, pumpkins furnish excellent 

 food, but they are most highly prized for feeding 

 cows in milk. When so fed, the practice is common of 

 drawing them daily or twice a day from the place where 

 they grew to the pastures. They are then tossed out of the 

 wagon, and in falling, the concussion usually breaks them 

 open, so that further division is not necessary. Cows are 

 exceedingly fond of them, and may with safety be allowed 

 to consume them in large quantities. The claim has been 

 made that the seeds are adverse to free milk giving, but 

 this claim has not been sustained by the experience of feed- 

 ers. The free feeding of pumpkins is highly favorable to 

 abundant milk production. Pumpkins should always be fed 

 in a clean place, hence, when fed to cattle in pastures, the 

 exact place of feeding should be changed from day to day. 

 They should be finely sliced when fed to calves. For such 

 feeding they are highly suitable. 



By sheep, pumpkins are much relished and also by 

 lambs, as soon as they become accustomed to them. They 

 will learn to eat them more quickly if first sliced and salted. 

 They may be fed to sheep in the same way as to cattle. Ex- 

 cept for a few days at the first, they may be allowed to eat 



