366 Of Straw. 



sumed by cattle, for such food alone, would not fatten them, 

 and their dung would be of little value. 



The properties of the different kinds of straw, for feeding 

 stock, shall next be considered. 



IVheat Straw.* In some parts of England, it is used as 

 fodder for stock, and frequently cut into chaff, to be eaten 

 by horses with their corn. But in Scotland, wheat straw is 

 scarcely ever used as fodder for domestic animals, except 

 in cases of necessity, when other food cannot be procured. 

 It is there considered, that wheat is seldom cut down till it 

 is thoroughly ripe, and then its straw dries and declines in 

 value, as food for cattle, in proportion as the seed attains per- 

 fection. Straw indeed, is much richer, when the plant is in 

 flower, than when it has come to maturity ; and the nearer 

 the seed arrives at the stage of ripening, the drier, more wi- 

 thered, and less nutritious does the straw become. Every 

 farmer and feeder of horses knows well, that rye-grass hay, 

 cut before the seed is nearly ripe, is much more valuable, and 

 gives a higher price, than when the seed has ripened before 

 cutting. The case is the same with every other species of that 

 sort of food. Wheat straw must therefore become less 

 nutritious, if it is not cut, till the seeds have become complete- 

 ly ripe, than if it had been reaped sooner. If it is used as 

 fodder, it should be cut into chaff, and enriched, by being 

 boiled or steamed with potatoes, turnips, or some other arti- 

 cle, by means of which it might be rendered softer, more 

 palatable, and more nutritious. 



Oat Straw. This straw should be given uncut. It was 

 formerly excellent feeding for stock, when raised on land 

 full of couch, and other natural grasses ; but since the intro- 

 duction of fallow, and horse-hoed crops, very little grass, 

 comparatively, is now found in the straw of any kind of corn. 

 In some counties in England, oats are given in the straw, or 

 corn and all, as a species of fodder, which is technically called 

 " cut meat" But that plan is condemned as slovenly and 

 wasteful ; for the proportion between straw and corn being 

 so different, it is impossible for a farmer to do justice to his 

 cattle or horses, by a process attended with so much uncer- 

 tainty. When given in this state, there is a great risk of 

 having the corn unmasticated and totally wasted. 



Barley Straw. When this straw is grown in a southern 

 climate, it is much relished by stock, not being tough, con- 

 sequently easily eaten, and so sweet, that cattle are particu- 

 larly fond of it. In Scotland, however, it is considered to be 

 much inferior to oat straw, for its feeding properties ; and 



