684 
Utilisation of Straw as Food for Stock. 
pied, as in tlie whinchat. The nest, neatly made and well 
concealed, is placed on the ground ; and the eggs are pale blue, 
with a variable amount of reddish-brown markings. When the 
nest is too closely approached, the old birds become very fussy 
and clamorous, continually repeating their note, “ hweet, jur, 
jur,” and exert themselves to lure the intruder away from 
their treasure. They are exceedingly lively little birds, rest- 
lessly flitting from bush to bush, and usually alighting on the 
topmost spray. 
Their food consists of Avorms, slugs, beetles, small moths, 
and butterflies, often captured on the wing, and of a few small 
seeds. 
Charles F. Archibald. 
UTILISATION OF STRAW AS FOOD 
FOR STOCK. 
The great deficiency in the hay crop of 1892 has again 
brought under consideration the question of the more general 
utilisation of straw for stock-feeding purposes, whereby it may, 
when requisite, be made a complete substitute for hay by being 
chaffed and intermixed Avith richer ingredients, Avhilst in other 
cases the consumption of hay may be greatly economised by the 
moi’e extensive employment of straw chaff in the general dietary. 
Many practical agriculturists have distinguished themselves by 
pointing out from their own experience the best methods by 
Avhich these aims may be accomplished, and not a feAv have 
strictly advocated the principle that in general farm manage- 
ment there ought to be a much larger consumption of straw as 
food for stock than is commonly the case, as this seems the 
most feasible and economical Avay of increasing the capabilities 
of farms to sustain larger stocks of cattle and sheep in Avinter. 
There can be no doubt that from the earliest times straw' 
has been employed to some extent as food for stock, but there 
have been bad as Avell as good Avays of doing this, and our fore- 
fathers did not ahvays choose the right method. Artliur Young 
condemned the practice in his day of dairy cows, Avhen out of 
profit in Avinter, being fed on nothing else but straAV fodder. 
He says in his Calendar : — 
“ The common cases of straw feeding are of cows, young cattle, or black 
cattle just' brought in, and not yet put to fatting. With regard to cows the 
food is certainly insullicient, and lets them down so much in flesh that when 
