108 



Winter Cattle Feed — Beet Sugar. 



Vol U. 



Winter Cattle Feed. 



The indifference wliich is manifested in 

 every direction of our country toward pro- 

 curing a supply of succulent food for milch 

 cows during- winter, is as cruel as it is im- 

 politic. Without such food to be substi- 

 tuted for the herbage of pastures, it is as im- 

 possible that cows can be kept in good 

 order as that they can be kept profitably to 

 their milk upon dry food. Say what we 

 may, the cow that keeps well to the pail 

 during winter must be supplied with such 

 food as yields succulent matter bountifully ; 

 — for without she be so provided, it is utterly 

 impossible that the milk-vessels can secrete 

 milk, and for the very obvious reason that 

 they must have something to extract it from. 

 We have often seen a farmer who, with half 

 a dozen cows to the pail, in winter, did not 

 make more butter and cream than supplied 

 his own table, whereas he ought to have 

 been able, in addition to domestic consump- 

 tion, to have sent at least 20 lbs. per week 

 to market. If this were an isolated case it 

 would not strike us with wonder ; but from 

 its almost universal prevalence, it is at once 

 a subject of regret and mortification — regret 

 that the claims of self-interest and humanity 

 are so shamefully neglected — and mortifica- 

 tion, that so little regard is paid to a branch 

 of husbandry so intimately connected with 

 human comfort. 



With these introductory remarks, let us 

 say what are, in our opinion, the best food 

 for cattle in winter. It is Mangle Wartzel, 

 Sugar Beet, Ruta Baga, and Pumpkins. 

 p]ach of these may, by proper care, be pro- 

 vided in ample quantities, without materially 

 interfering with the other farming operations. 

 A single acre planted in Mangel Wurtzel, or 

 Sugar Beets, in rows two feet apart, the 

 plants one foot asunder, supposing that the 

 beets average 3 lbs. a piece, which is a very 

 moderate average, is capable of yielding 

 1089 bushels, which, at tlie rate of a bushel 

 a day to each cow, would last seven cows 

 from the 1st of December till the 1st of May, 

 and if they get but half a bushel a day each, 

 the product of an acre would keep 14 coW's 

 in food during the time named. Beets every 

 one know how to cultivate — to wit, that they 

 are to be planted in good deeply ploughed 

 rich loam, previously well manured ; that 

 when the beets come up that they may be 

 thinned, cleaned of weeds, and subsequently 

 receive three hoeings and cleanings. This 

 is not more trouble than oug'atto be devoted 

 ' to either the culture of corn or potatoes ; but 

 how different is the result of product. Of 

 all the articles named by us as proper for 

 winter food, we would prefer the two varie- 

 ties of beets ; but we think that every judi- 



cious farmer will at once see the propriety 

 of providing some of all, as there is nothing 

 which so ten'ds to keep cattle in winter to 

 their appetites, as frequent changes of food ; 

 we have frequently seen them reject the 

 same kind of food one day that they had 

 eaten with avidity the previous one, and 

 after ari interval of a few days feeding on - 

 something else, return with renewed vigor 

 of appetite to that which only a few days 

 before they had loathed.— /t(rm. & Gardener. 



For Die Farmers' Cabinet. 



In the autumn of 1836, the writer, in com- 

 pany with four other gentlemen, made a visit 

 to Mr. George Walker, the justly celebrated 

 agriculturist, near Holniesburg, Pennsylvania. 

 The following lines commemorative of the 

 visit are the oilspring of genuine feeling. 

 How sweet in rural lodge to find 

 Intelligence and worth combined ; 

 A love for'all that nature strews 

 Through her domain with hand profuse. 

 But which alas! to vulgar eye 

 Is ever wrapt in mystery ; 

 With pleasure I shall oft recall 

 Tiie hour we passed in welcome hall* 

 A city's luxuries were there, 

 Crovvn'd with the dairy's bounteous fare ; 

 A taste refined throughout was seen 

 With woman's most attractive mien. 

 Our host in rusticf ease reclined 

 \\'ith clear and philosophic mind, 

 On each new subject of debate 

 Could every doubt elucidate; 

 To RURAL lodge| I bade farewell 

 With teelings guest alone can tell. 



H. 



From the Paris Bon Sens. 



Beet SHgar. 



Monsieur de Dombasle had declared the 



desiccation of the beet in large quantitie.9, 



so effected as not to injure it for the subse- 

 quent stages of the Sugar manufacture, — to 

 be impracticable. His experiments were mot 

 by so many difficulties, that he in tlie end 

 abandoned them. 



We hear that this important problem has 

 just been solved in Germany, by M. ScJiu- 

 zenbach. A factory, which has adopted his 

 process, is already in active operation. The 

 immense advantages of this discovery, will 

 doubtless be appreciated by our manufac- 

 turers; and we hope that efforts will be made 

 to acquire a knowledge of the secret, which 

 must bring about a revolution in the business 

 of Beet Sugar. 



* Tile dining apartment. 



t Applied in its most rrfined sonse. 



} The name suggested for Mr. Walker's residence. 



