130 
Sti-aiv as Food for Stock. 
tiful, not so much straw is cut into chaff as in previous seasons. But when 
there are plenty of loose boxes or covered yards, straw can be easily economised, 
and turned to a more valuable purpose than bedding for stock. 
" On large flock-farms it is a common practice to feed the ewes with a 
considerable quantity of straw-chaff. This has a most beneficial effect upon 
the sheep, counteracting the too watery properties of the turnips. A little 
straw-chaff is also given to the younger sheep, but then it has generally a good 
admixture of hay with it. 
" The chief arguments against the extended use of straw-chaff are the 
diminution of the bulk of farmyard-manure, and the necessity of plenty of 
straw to keep the cattle warm and comfortable. Should the area of corn grown 
be diminished, there will be a still greater demand for covered buildings, if 
the same amount of stock is kept during the winter. Straw-chaff, no doubt, 
greatly economises roots, but it will be the greatest difficulty to keep cattle 
clean and comfortable in open yards if so much straw is consumed. 
" I have not heard of any substitute for straw being used for bedding cattle, 
save, perhaps, a little sawdust near some timber-yards. Sparred floors are, I 
believe, unknown in Norfolk. In the north-east of the county a great quan- 
tity of sedge and rushes, grown on the banks of the tidal rivers and by the 
margin of the broads, is used as rough fodder. The cattle eat some of the 
sweeter portions, but the bulk is trodden down as litter, and makes most 
excellent manure. Few oats are grown in Norfolk, but, when they are, the 
straw is always preferred for chaff. Some farmers like wheat-straw next 
to oats, contending that it is more nutritious, and makes better chaff than 
barley-straw, but the latter is more generally used, as the chaff is softer, and 
more relished by the stock. 
" Very little straw is sold in Norfolk, perhaps less than in any county in 
England of the same size. Tbe demand this year is greater than usual, but 
prices are not so exorbitant as in some other parts of the kingdom. But there 
is really a straw famine in Norfolk this winter, and by the time next harvest 
is here there will be precious little straw left, certainly not sufficient to thatch 
the corn-stacks. 
" Summer-feeding seeds in Norfolk does not produce the good which results 
from it in some other parts of England. Most artificial grasses, but especially 
clovers, frequently produce better wheat after a crop of hay than when the 
seeds were fed off during the preceding summer, even with the addition of 
corn or cake. 
" It may be worthy of remark, that, one of the leading tenants upon the 
Holkham Estate (certainly one of the best known and most successful farmers 
of his day), during the last few years he was in business ceased cutting roots 
for his cattle, and whether they were turnips, swedes, or mangolds, used them 
all vjhole. This, I believe, is the Scotch plan ; certainly it is the practice of 
Mr. McCombie ; but then it can only be successful when the roots are given 
to oxen of a good age and size, and the roots are supplemented with other 
food. But it is somewhat curious that the old fashion which prevailed in 
Norfolk in the days of our grandfathers — of feeding bullocks upon whole 
roots — should be revived again, after the processes of slicing, shredding, and 
pulping, have prevailed for so many years." 
Mr. William Linton, of Sheriff Hutton, York, has kindly 
supplied the appended information on the consumption of straw 
as fodder in his district. He says : — 
" Nothing can be more varied than the quantity of straw grown upon the 
several farms in this part of Yorkshire ; and its use as food is equally as 
varied, according to the proportion of it to that of the stock kept. Upon some 
