76 



BOARD OF AGRICULTURE.. [Pub. Doc. 



Feeding Land through Steers. 



Beef is but a factor of the general farm policy and must 

 be controlled to the general good. The amount of beef 

 made and the success of the farm as a whole are dependent 

 upon the crops made. The purpose of the farm is to secure 

 as nnich beef per acre and from as many of its acres as possi- 

 ble to press into full service. Hence, in the rotation formed 

 regard will be had to the greatest total output of the acre 

 though it may induce the growth of other rank growing 

 annuals than corn and include oats, hay, Hungarian and 

 other great yielding crops. In the purchase of concentrated 

 foods it will include the richest protein foods as a source of 

 nitrogen. 



The following table shows the amount of protein of the 

 prominent concentrated foods, the fat, the value of the 

 several foods as direct manures and their estimated value 

 after the steer has withdrawn from them what he can, after 

 necessary wastage has done its work, allowing also for the 

 one-sided character of the manure made and interest account 

 against manure on account of the long time required to re- 

 cover it in crops. The estimate is based on the value of 

 nitrogen, phosphoric acid and potash bought at their rates in 

 chemicals and not in the more costly form of mixed ferti- 

 lizers. I believe that the excrement from foods given in the 

 table will in right use be worth the sums estimated. As the 

 manure will be over rich in nitrogen the minerals should be 

 associated with the manure in use. 



