MORE GOOD TIPS. 69 



them up again when the weather is clear, in this way often saving 

 a crop from getting wet. 



In slacking the hay ought to be springy, so that a man stand- 

 ing on the stack ought to be able to make it shake down to the 

 ground ; that is always a safe sign. Another way of testing your 

 stack is to drive a hay fork into it, leave it for 20 minutes, then 

 draw it out and rapidly pass your hand along the handle, which 

 ought to be smooth and slippery even if warm, but if it feels sticky 

 then your stack is heating and likely will have to be clawed to 

 pieces again. 



Lucerne gives first-class feeding for ostriches and horses, 

 dairy cows give a good and rich supply of milk when fed on it, 

 and small stock all thrive on it. A lamb a month old running on 

 lucerne will manage without a mother, and grow up without that 

 stunted look that the Australians call poddies. 



There is no better feed for a beast in low condition than 

 lucerne hay. To feed very poor cattle on oathay does little good ; 

 I think that their digestive organs are so weakened from want, 

 that they are unable to derive the benefit from the hard, dry food, 

 whereas with a soft food like lucerne thay are better able to 

 digest it. 



To Fatten Sheep and Goats. 



Following is the experience of Mr. W. E. Murray, of Graaff- 

 Rsinet, on how to fatten sheep and goats on lucerne : 



First give the animals a teaspoonful of Cooper's dip and salt 

 (1 of Cjoper's dip to 10 of ground salt). Put them into a field 

 when full and leave them there till sold. It is fatal to kraal them 

 at night ; they must never get hungry, if so they eat. too fast and 

 blow. 



There is nothing to touch green or dry hay for ostriches. 

 The leaves can be put in bales and saved for ostrich chicks. 



If hot water is poured on the leaves after adding a little bran 

 or mealie meal, it is splendid food for pigs and f nvls. 



Lucerne hay can be chopped to feed ostriches when it is dry 

 and they require feeding. It can be chopped for horses but not 

 for cattle. Feed the cattle from the stack; if chopped they just 

 swallow without chewing, which is apt to cause a stoppage in the 

 intestines, resulting in death. There is no doubt lucerne hay 

 produces good, rich milk, and dairymen will be well rewarded by 

 using it. 



If one has plenty of water, lucerne can be mowed five times a 

 year, then there will be good feeding for the winter, so that ten 

 acres of lucerne is equal to fifty acres of other stuff. What is more, 

 locusts do not care for it and will leave it to the last. 



