Of Straw. 369 



Straw keeps much better u nth rushed, in a large stack with 

 its corn, than in a barn ; but straw, in whatever way it is 

 kept, more especially white straw, loses part of its value as 

 fodder, after the sharp dry breezes of the spring months 

 have set in. It is seldom given to working horses, after the 

 month of March. 



Straw given to stock, should be constantly made use of as 

 soon after it is thrashed as possible ; for if exposed to the 

 influence of the atmosphere, it becomes either musty or too 

 dry ; and in that state, cattle neither relish, nor thrive on it 

 so well. If it must be kept a length of time for fodder, it 

 should be bound in trusses, in which state it is easier moved, 

 lies in less room, and retains its strength and flavour, rather 

 longer, than when loose ; or it may be secured, in a stack 

 properly built, trodden down, and covered. 



There is certainly much nourishment in the heads of grain 

 in general, and particularly in the awns of barley ; but these 

 require, either to be steeped in cold water, or to have boil- 

 ing water poured upon them, before they are given to stock. 

 Cow-keepers will give even a higher price for the awns of 

 barley, than for the heads of wheat. 



It is an useful practice to mix a portion of straw, parti- 

 cularly the straw of oats, with the aftermath of grass, or 

 second crop of clover, at the time of stacking it. The straw 

 absorbs the grasses and moisture as they exhale from the 

 hay, by which the straw acquires juices and a flavour which 

 are agreeable to cattle ; the hay which, in other circumstan- 

 ces, would be spoiled, is in this manner cured, and the mix- 

 ture is excellent food for stock ; while the harvesting of the 

 grass, or clover crop, is thereby accelerated (* 31 ). 



Some farmers give the best straw to the young stock, and 

 the inferior sort to oxen. Others, however, reverse the 

 practice, on the idea, that the older the cattle, the better 

 food they require. Indeed the best straw, without the ad- 

 dition of turnips, or other sorts of roots or cabbages, is but 

 miserable food for oxen. The prudent method is, to give 

 the inferior straw, in the beginning of winter, while there is 

 plenty of other nourishing articles to be eaten with it. 



In the consumption of straw as fodder, the inferior sorts 

 should be first made use of, and afterwards those of a better 

 kind. It is necessary that stock, when fed on so coarse ah 

 article as straw, should have an abundant supply of water 

 at their command (* 3 *). 



It is disputed, where straw is the chief food for cattle, 

 whether it should be given sparingly, or in abundance. By 



2 A 



