Suggestions for Stock-feeding in the Winter of 1893-04. 485 
The Board of Agriculture and Mr. Martin J. Sutton did 
good service in publishing suggestions as to autumn crops, 
ensilage, &c. Having taken advantage of them, and thus 
made every available addition to his supply of food, and also 
having got together the greatest amount of bedding stuff within 
his reach, the farmer will be in a position to calculate how much 
straw he can spare for feeding purposes, and in fact to take 
stock of his resources ; remembering that he cannot insure a 
growth of green stuff much before May, and also that — as spring 
advances — days get longer, animals grow bigger, and, with cold 
March winds blowing, more food will be required. At this 
stage how often does the stockfeeder wish that more economy 
had been exercised with the roots during the early winter ! A 
condition of plenty often produces carelessness, and his constant 
care at this season of scarcity will be to see that his stockman 
does not exceed his orders. If his roots will only run to one 
root per day for each animal, there can be no doubt about his 
position later on if his stockman allows two to be consumed. 
These roots may prove a valuable investment, to be realised in 
the spring of 1894. 
Once a man has accurately estimated his resources, and 
made choice of the many different off-the-farm foods offered by 
our merchants in these times of cheap corn, there ought to be 
no difficulty in working out the problems before us. Cattle 
will thrive without roots, although with many farmers these 
are the mainstay during winter. Sheep are more difficult to 
manage after a dry summer, and with little or nothing left on 
the pastures. 
I have found treacle very useful for cows, &c., where no 
roots are to be had, and where straw chaff has to be used in 
any great quantity. This, I think, answers all the purpose of 
steaming the chaff, besides giving additional flavour and 
substance. My plan, and that of others in my district, is to 
mix 1 lb. per head in hot water, adding as much cold water as 
required to fairly saturate the heap of chaff intended for the 
day’s consumption. To this I add from 7 to 14 lb. per head of 
meal, and linseed or cotton cake — mostly a mixture of all three. 
The choice of meal — wheat, maize, peas, or any other kind — will 
be determined as the market value of each varies. The treacle 
and water can be easily poured on with a watering-pot, and the 
whole should be well mixed together and left a few hours before 
use. If it is only intended to winter cattle for grass next 
spring, 7 lb. of meal will be sufficient ; but, of course, this will 
depend upon the size of animal, &c. Treacle is of more market 
value now than it has been ; but it will be found that growing 
VOL. IV. T. S. — 15 K K 
