196 FEEDING ANIMALS. 



less succulent rye. When the only green crop is clover in 

 its most succulent state, we have often run the clover 

 through a cutter and then mixed it with one-quarter to 

 one-third of its bulk of cut straw, let it lie in mass for a 

 few hours and the straw absorbs the extra moisture, when 

 the whole will be eaten greedily, the straw preventing all 

 danger of bloat. We have been a little surprised to find 

 that cows will yield the same milk upon a mixture of one- 

 fourth straw with the clover as when fed on clover alone. 

 The test, however, was not made so accurately as to deter- 

 mine whether they made the milk on a quarter less clover ; 

 they may have eaten nearly as much clover and the straw 

 extra. But with a great deal of experience in thus mixing 

 in straw, we concluded that it was a profitable way to use 

 straw, as we found on examining the drippings that the 

 straw was well digested. When the clover begins to 

 blossom, its succulence is so much reduced that it is quite 

 safe to feed it alone. When the system of soiling is con- 

 ducted on a large scale, the use of the feed-cutter will be 

 found very profitable in mingling all the fine and coarse 

 parts of the fadder together, especially if the green crop 

 is fed a little too mature, so as to become slightly tough. 

 The animals relish such tough green food much better 

 after being cut. 



Fodder corn should also be fed with second-crop clover 

 when the two are ready at the same time. If fodder earn 

 and clover are run through a cutter together, even when 

 the corn-stalks are large, every part will be eaten clean. 

 A very heavy crop of corn is largely benefited by being cut 

 into quarter-inch lengths, and if no other green crop, such 

 as clover, millet, or vetches, etc., is to be had, then mix 

 one-fourth cut clover hay with it, or two quarts of bran, 

 or one pound of linseed-meal, or cotton-seed-meal, per 

 bushel of cut corn. This will render the corn a profitable 

 ration. 



