490 Suggestions for Stock-feeding in the Winter of 1893-94. 
them to decide what fodders are best adapted to constitute the 
cheap and efficient substitutes suggested above. The writer’s 
general practice, and such practice as he has observed in suc- 
cessful operation in Hampshire, together with the present prices 
of the materials now to be dealt with, point to the following : — 
(1) An efficient food for sheep will be obtained by the 
mixture of 1 part hay, 3 parts straw chaff, and about 1^ lb. of 
malt dust with ^ lb. of cotton-cake per head. 
(2) For the provision of sheep food, the present low price 
of barley brings it within range. Sound barley may be pur- 
chased at Southampton for from 15s. to 16s. per quarter. This 
will produce most food if steeped in water for about twenty-four 
hours. Care must be taken, however, not to use more water 
than the corn will absorb. After saturation, the barley should 
be laid upon a covered floor until it sprouts, which will occur 
after about three days, unless the weather be very cold. In this 
event it is desirable to obtain warmth by covering the corn with 
old bags. Barley thus prepared is a wholesome diet for cattle 
also, and one on which they thrive. With reasonable care as to 
quantity, it has likewise been used with advantage for working 
horses. Of course, in all the above cases, the barley must be 
given mixed with straw chaff. 
(3) Wheat, cheap as it is, with a due proportion of straw 
chaff, may also be used, grittled, but sparingly at first, and in- 
creasing to nearly \ lb. per head. Some of the principal 
Hampshire farmers have already fed their sheep upon it, and 
with a success that will justify its employment in future years, 
provided that it remain as low in price as at present. 
Of the foregoing foods, it may be remarked that the best, if 
not the cheapest, is that first mentioned. A good method of 
preparing the straw chaff is as follows : Cut ail straw, haulm, 
Ac., into chaff directly it is threshed, and have it well trodden 
into the store with a slight sprinkling of salt — about a bushel of 
salt to a ton of straw — and the addition of a little fenugreek or 
spice ; though the salt must be used sparingly where breeding 
ewes are to be fed. Chaff so treated mellows wonderfully, and 
improves by being kept for a few months. It will be found 
that both sheep and cattle will eat it with zest. 
The moderate supply of roots that may be available should 
be used to supplement each of the foregoing foods. 
Maize would be serviceable during the coming winter if 
it should be as cheap as now appears probable. Cotton-cake, 
again, if price permit, with plenty of turnips, will make a feed 
upon which dry sheep will thrive. 1 lb. of cake per head daily 
is a fair allowance. This is a cheap way of wintering tegs, and 
