182 DOMESTIC ANIMALS, DAIRYING, ETC. 



in the feed, less that sold in the milk. The phosphoric acid and pot- 

 ash have been drawn from the soil, and the farm is no richer, but is 

 poorer, because of the quantities gathered by the alfalfa hay, while 

 the purchased feeds brought considerable quantities to the farm. 

 It has been shown, however, that on reasonably strong soils, the 

 crops following alfalfa are able to obtain their mineral food more 

 readily than if they follow cereal or grass crops, which draw all of 

 their nitrogen from the soil. This, however, does not change the 

 fact that in the purchase of feeds considerable quantities of fertility 

 elements are added to the total supply on the farm, and should be 

 regarded as an offset in part, at least, against the cost of feed supplies. 



On the other hand, the growing of alfalfa presents a possible 

 means of gaining nitrogen, while at the same time increasing the 

 power of other plants to absorb phosphoric acid and potash from the 

 soil. (N. J. B. 204.) 



Period of Gestation in Cows. Of 182 births the average period 

 of gestation was almost exactly 280 days. The shortest period was 

 264 days; the longest 296 days. Approximately equal numbers of 

 births occurred on each day from the 274th to the 287th inclusive. 

 The period of gestation was the same for male and female calves. 

 (N. Y. Cornell B. 162.) 



Whole Straw and Cut Corn Fodder for Bedding. Many farm- 

 ers may hesitate at using fodder for bedding. In the minds of most 

 people, fodder is one of the staple forage crops of the farm, and is 

 raised and cared for for feed only. As was mentioned before, feed 

 and bedding were taken from the same pile at the time these tests 

 were made, and it was very good feed too. To use such material for 

 bedding may appear very wasteful. Wheat straw can be used for 

 no other purpose. It is valueless as feed, and we have come to re- 

 gard it as a bedding material. But a few comparisons may put the 

 matter in a different light. As was stated, the cut stover makes a 

 more satisfactory bedding than the straw. Now the question comes 

 as to its cost. There are but two ways to get at this. The market 

 price of good wheat straw is a little more than that of fodder per ton. 

 In fact, this difference in selling value is about sufficient to balance 

 the difference in the weights of straw and fodder necessary 

 for the same results in bedding. Another way to compare the two 

 is to consider the amounts grown per acre. Good wheat will make 

 about two tons of straw per acre. But a good crop of fodder is much 

 more sure than is a good crop of straw, and a person depending on 

 corn fodder for bedding is not so likely to be disappointed as Avhen 

 depending on wheat straw. Of course there are other factors to be 

 considered. A corn crop is surer and more valuable than a wheat 

 crop. But, on the other hand, with the present system of farming, 

 wheat is _thought necessary as a nurse crop for grass. But what we 

 were trying to establish was that it was not necessary or even ad- 

 visable to grow wheat purposely for bedding. Corn fodder is as good 

 or better, is a surer crop, and is a more valuable crop otherwise than 

 wheat. It should take the place of wheat straw for bedding to a great 

 extent. 



