Suggestions for Stock-feeding in the Winter of 1893-94. 455 
thing out of doors as long as we can, and I look forward somewhat hopefully 
to being able to meet half-way, so to speak, the spring catch crops. 
I do not think that the bulking value of straw is well understood in some 
parts of England. If a good flavour is imparted to the straw by the steamed 
mixture I suggest, a considerable saving may be effected by using as much 
of it as can be spared for fodder instead of for bedding, while those people 
who have access to rushes, flags, bracken, heather, bent, &c., are in much 
better case than those who have not such material to fell back upon, and 
they should not miss any opportunity which may offer itself of preparing 
and using such waste products as bedding. 
In spite of scarcity, many farmers are apt to use their straw in the ordinary 
way, though perhaps more sparingly, and then resort to makeshifts when it 
is finished. This, however, should not he. I would rather say, begin at 
once, and rigidly enforce entire abstinence from straw, except as a food, and 
then only chopped, and, as I have said, steamed and flavoured. Then, I 
believe that, with care, and looking forward to early spring crops, we may 
weather the winter, though undoubtedly it must be one of the most trying 
the British farmer lias ever had to encounter. 
The next communication is from a farmer in the Fens, who 
has to carry a large number of cattle through the winter with 
only half the usual amount of straw ancl clover hay, and no 
roots : — 
I would suggest that stock be kept out of doors, weather permitting, as 
far as possible into the autumn — in the droughty year of 1868 our autumn 
keep was very abundant. After that, the only advice I could give would 
be to purchase the cheapest feeding stuffs procurable in each farmer’s imme- 
diate neighbourhood, taking bulk into consideration — dried grains, for 
example, where there is not too much carriage to pay. Keep the beasts out 
on the grass as long as practicable, and then in covered yards or hovels. 
Cut into chaff all the oat-straw and part of the wheat-straw, steaming the 
latter to make it more readily digestible. Practise the greatest economy in 
every direction. 
A successful farmer, of nearly half-a-century’s experience in 
stock-breeding, writes as follows from tbe water-meadows district 
of Wiltshire : — 
The wintering of stock is most important work at all times, and must 
especially be carried out with anxious care by the feeder who is called upon 
to face the winter on short commons in such a season as the present. 
Those who supplement their failing pastures in good time will effect a 
great saving of food hereafter, by prolonging the period during which the 
stock may be kept out, as well as preserving their health. A moderate 
feed in early morning will help in this direction, and nothing, I think, is 
better for the purpose than chaff with a mixture of meal, consisting of two 
parts of thin sweet barley to one of old beans finely ground. The time to 
begin must be influenced by tbe condition of the pastures and the state of the 
weather; but it would be well to be prepared to commence with the usual 
October rains, or at any rate not after the white frosts of November, or the 
cattle may be chilled, and sheep lost from water on the chest. 
Such feeding will probably carry stock in health till near Christmas, 
when, if fodder is to be made the most of, they must be put into winter 
quarters, whilst those who are better acquainted with the chaff-cutter than I 
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