THE DISEASES OP CATTLE. 339 



CHINESE SUGAR-CANE AS FOOD FOR STOCK. 



It is my opinion that the Chinese Sugar-cane is a valuable 

 article as food for neat stock ; but it should be fed to them 

 before it becomes fibrous and tough. 



A writer in the Chronicle and Sentinel, who appears to be 

 better qualified to judge of the value of this kind of fodder 

 than the author of this work, has given husbandmen the benefit 

 of his experience, as follows : — 



" Allow me a small space to * give in ' my experience as to 

 the virtues of Chinese sugar-cane as food for stock. I wish to 

 do so, because I have recently read several notices of the dele- 

 terious effects of the cane upon cattle, and have also learned 

 that, in some parts of an adjoining county, it is being cut down 

 and suffered to rot upon the ground, for fear the cattle or hogs 

 or horses might accidentally get a bite of it ! This is the most 

 ridiculous aspect through which I have looked at the case, and 

 I have had my cachinatory muscles no little exercised in con- 

 sequence thereof. But to the ' law and the testimony.' This 

 is my third season of cultivating the Chinese cane. I have 

 seven acres of it this year, five of which I planted for the ex- 

 press purpose of feeding it, green and dry, to horses, cattle, and 

 hogs ; and since the first of June until now, I have been feed- 

 ing it daily to those animals. My calves have run daily upon 

 two acres, sown broadcast, since that time. My cows and 

 oxen, while sick with the ' black tongue,' were daily fed with 

 it. My oxen, when at work, are fed upon it ; horses ditto. 

 My hogs are daily fed with the cane now, and are in fine grow- 

 ing order. I intend to fatten my pork upon the cane, as not 

 only good feed, but equal to corn for the same purpose. These 

 facts can be attested by my neighbors, for they know all about 

 them. After three years' experience with the Chinese sugar- 

 cane, I have come to the following conclusions with regard to 

 it ; and I give them for what they are worth, not caring a ' baw 

 bee ' whether or not they are endorsed by the people : — 



" 1. For forage, either green or dry, there is no plant so 

 I valuable. 



