368 Of Straw. 



straw be given for only a month or six weeks in winter, it 

 will be a great saving in so expensive an article as hay. In 

 spring, hay, from its being closely packed, and less exposed 

 to the influence of the atmosphere, retains its nutritive juices 

 much better than straw ; hence the former has greatly the 

 advantage over the latter, and is therefore to be preferred. 

 When cattle are fed with distillery offals, straw should be 

 given them twice a-day, with the grains or wash ; for it has 

 been found, that without straw or hay, cattle would not feed 

 so well, owing to their not being able to chew the cud ( az7 ). 



2. Horses. It is disputed, whether working horses should 

 be fed in winter with straw or hay, though all parties admit, 

 that during the severe labour of the spring months, hay is 

 essential. But pease and bean straw certainly make good 

 fodder for horses early in the season, if not injured by rain. 

 With that food, and two feeds of corn, horses will not only 

 plough three quarters of an English acre per day, but are 

 usually full of health and vigour, when the sowing season 

 commences. In regard to horses that are not worked, it is 

 a good practice, to throw the straw before them in the stall, 

 before it is spread under them, particularly if it be sweet and 

 fresh. They always find something to pick out of it, and 

 it makes a wholesome variety in their diet. 



3. Sheep, &c. There is no food of which sheep are fonder 

 than pease straw ( aa8 ) ; and where circumstances are favour- 

 able to that crop, pease might be cultivated merely for the 

 sake of the straw, from the advantages that would thence be 

 derived by the sheep farmer. Indeed, when it is proved by 

 experience, that this crop can be obtained from lands prepa- 

 ratory to sowing wheat, without any expense or injury to the 

 soil, no opportunity should be lost, by which such valuable 

 fodder could be obtained (* a9 ). Tare straw would answer 

 the same purpose. In Flanders, the straw of beans is rec- 

 koned excellent for sheep, and is said to produce superior 

 mutton. 



4. General Rules. The value of straw for feeding, depends 

 upon the soil and climate. In regard to soil, straw from 

 fertile land, must be much more nutritive, than from land 

 of inferior quality. As to climate, it is asserted, that the 

 straw of wheat, barley and oats, contains more saccharine 

 matter in the southern, than in the northern provinces of 

 France, and that the superior sweetness of the one over the 

 other, may be ascertained by masticating it ( Z3 ). In good 

 seasons, therefore, it must be more nutritious in this country ,- 

 than when they are unfavourable. m) t 



