10 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[January, 
1 Tie, 4x6 in. x 256 long. 24 Beams, 3x8 in. x 14 ft. l’g. 
1 Plate, 4x6 in. x 186 ft. l'g. 4 Valleys, 3x8 in. x 20 ft. l’g. 
24 Rafters, 3x5 in. x 16 ft. l’g. 
100 Joist, 3x4 inches x 13 leet long, @ 16c. each.$ 16.00 
SOO VVall Strips, 2x4x13, a 13c. each. . . 30.00 
Materials in Water tanle ami Cornices . 50.00 
300 Novelty Siding Boards, y*4 in. a 28c. each. 84.U0 
4 0 Shingling lath, @ He. each. . 24.00 
ti'J bunches Shingles,@ $2 P bunch. 138.00 
81 feet Gutters, 132 ft. Leaders, and Porch Roofs, 10c. 
per foot. 35.10 
355 Flooring, 9>< x 13 @ 28c. each. 99 40 
Porch and ilood complete.. 15.00 
Stairs complete, $90; Bay Window, complete, $60. 150.00 
20 Windows, complete, @ $10 eacli. 200.00 
n Cellar Windows, complete, @ $6 each. 36.00 
4 Hornier Windows, complete, @ $20 each. 80.00 
32 Doors, complete. @ $10 each. 320.00 
1 Cellar door and Hatchway doors. 20.00 
Shelving and hooks in closets. 20.00 
2 Marble Mantels and 4 Shelves with trusses. 75.00 
Range and Plumbing, complete.215.00 
Nails, $25 -, Bells, and Speaking Tubes, $20 . 45.00 
Painting. $200; Cartage (1 mile) $35. 235.00 
Carpenter's labor not Included above. 250.00 
Incidentals. 26.79 
Total cost, complete.$3,ui».u0 
Experiments with Winter Wheats and 
other Grains.—Fertilizers. 
We have before us a circular in which are set 
forth the results of a series of experiments made 
by David Landreth & Son, the well known seed 
growers and dealers. These experiments were 
made as it would seem, to test the virtues of wha* 
is known as Prof. Ville’s complete manure, consist¬ 
ing of superphosphate of lime, muriate of potash, 
sulphate of ammonia, and sulphate of lime, mingled 
in certain proportions, as well as the Hardiness and 
productiveness of several varieties of wheat. The 
lirst series of experiments was made with the Claw¬ 
son wheat, sown upon 21 plots of Vie of an acre 
each, at the rate of half-a-bushel to the acre. These 
experiments were a failure, the fertilizers showing 
Very little effect. What results were obtained are 
not given, any further than this meager statement. 
A second series is given in which, while there are 
abundant and full accounts of the appearance of 
the plants, there is no information as to the quantity 
of the crop, excepting that the average yield of 27 
plots, sown at the rate of 2^ lbs. of seed per acre, 
of different varieties upon each plot, was at the 
rate of nearly 38 bushels per acre. The Clawson 
wheat was the best, and yielded at the rate of 42 
bushels per acre. The seed was sown in drills 16 
inches apart. Some experiments with spring wheat, 
as might have been expected in that latitude, total¬ 
ly failed. With barley of several varieties sown, 
one known as “ Oregon,” produced 48 bushels per 
acre, while no others produced more than 33 bushels. 
Of oats several varieties were sown, at the rate of 
44 lbs. to 64 lbs. per acre. The Probsteier oats 
yielded 71 bushels per acre; Holbeck’s pedigree 
oats, 63 bushels, and a winter variety, known as 
Virginia winter oats, produced 649 bushels upon 11 
acres. These experiments would have been of much 
more practical value, had more detailed informa¬ 
tion been given as to the yield and character of the 
grain, the character-and condition of the soil, the 
date of sowing and harvesting, and less of the 
color and appearance of the foliage, which is quite 
Immaterial in a practical point of view. 
Science Applied to Farming.—XIII. 
By Prop. W. O. Atwater, Wesleyan University, 
Middletown, Conn. 
More about Coarse Bog and Salt Marsh Hays— 
How Science and Experience Agree as to 
their Proper Use. 
We are quite fortunate at our Laboratory, in hav¬ 
ing frequent and very interesting visits from the 
Intelligent and enterprising farmers of this sec¬ 
tion. One of them, Mr. W., who, though Sec¬ 
retary of an active farmers’ club, modestly forbids 
the use of his full name, was in recently, and re¬ 
ported his experience in using marsh hay and 
cotton-seed meal for his stock. He and his father 
before him have for years cut a good deal of coarse 
hay from low, marshy land too wet to plow. They 
formerly wintered their young cattle on this hay, 
but Mr. W. has concluded that it is not profitable. 
A steer would go into the stable in the fall weigh¬ 
ing 800 lbs., and come out in the spring 25 or 30 
lbs. lighter. Indeed, his cattle generally did poorly 
on such fodder. Dissatisfied with this, he has tried 
mixing cotton-seed meal with the marsh hay, and 
with most satisfactory results. His cattle like the 
mixture, thrive well on it, look sleek, their hair 
lies down smooth, and they come out in the spring 
in excellent condition. He feeds his cows 2 quarts 
per day each, of cotton-seed meal, and all the hay 
they will eat. They give as much milk as they 
would from the best upland hay, and the milk yields 
as much, and, in Mr. W.’s opinion, better butter. 
That Mr. W.’s plan works so excellently, is to be 
expected, because it is rational and scientifically 
sound. The addition simply makes his coarse low¬ 
land hay as good as he can grow on his best up¬ 
lands, at a small cost. And many other farmers 
do, and thousands more might do the same thing. 
What Ingredients do Cattle Need in tlicir 
Food—What do tbe Poor Hays Lick, and bow 
Shall tlicy be Supplied. 
As the result of years of careful experimenting 
in the agricultural Stations, and of the best farm¬ 
ing experience, calculations have been made of the 
amounts of food ingredients which will ordinarily 
be needed and economically used by various ani¬ 
mals, as oxen, cows, horses, sheep, according as 
they are kept at work, or to yield milk, or to be 
fattened. For instance, it is believed that a fair 
daily ration for a milch cow would contain for each 
1,000 lbs. live weight, about 15'/ 2 lbs. of digestible 
organic substance, consisting of not far from 2 l / a 
lbs. albuminoids, 12'/a lbs. carbo-hydrates, and 
about >/ 2 lb. fat. This accords, indeed, quite per¬ 
fectly with our common experience. We all know 
that young succulent grass and tbe finer quality of 
upland bay, are excellent for producing milk; 
while from medium or poorer hay alone, the best 
yield cannot be obtained. Now let us study the 
composition of these foods in the table below: 
Table 21. 
KINDS OF FODDER. 
100 Pounds Contain 
COARSE FOODS, 
a.—MARSH HAYS. 
Salt Say. 
Better quality mixed. 
Black Grass. 
Rush Salt Grass . 
Coarse Salt Marsh Grass... . 
Fresh “ Meadow" Hay. 
Bog Hay, cut In June. 
Bog Hay, cut in August. 
b.— Upland Hays, Straws. 
Best Upland Hay. 
Superior Upland Hay. 
Medium quality Hay-..... 
Poor quality Hay. 
Oat Straw. 
Winter Wheat Straw. 
Young Grass, (green). 
CONCENTRATED FOODS. 
Wheat. 
Indian Corn .... 
Peas. 
Field Beans.. 
Potatoes. 
Turnips. 
Brewers’ Grains 
Malt Sprouts_ 
Wheat Bran. 
Linseed Cake... 
Cotton-seed Cake (decort’d).. 
Western Middlings. 
Western Shipstun. 
I 
| Mineral Matters. 
| Organic Sub¬ 
stance. 
Of Organic Sub- 
1 stance is digestible 
The 
ible 
su 
con 
g 
ig 
s ° 
dlt 
org 
bsta? 
fists 
CO 
63 
rO e 
O s>. 
jest- 
znic 
ice 
of: 
1 
lbs. 
a 3 . 
as. 
as. 
as. 
as. 
lbs. 
8.2 
7.1 
84.7 
45.9 
3.4 
41.6 
ft 9 
8.7 
5.2 
80.1 
47.6 
3.9 
43.8 
0 8 
8„6 
6.7 
84.6 
47.6 
2.1 
45.0 
0 6 
15.9 
10.4 
73.7 
39.7 
2.2 
36.7 
0.8 
7.4 
6 3 
86.3 
45.6 
4.4 
40.5 
0.7 
8.2 
5.5 
86.3 
47.4 
3.1 
43.5 
0.8 
16.0 
7.7 
76.3 
54.5 
9.2 
43.1 
1.2 
15.5 
7.3 
77.2 
52.0 
8.3 
42.6 
1.1 
14.3 
6.2 
79.5 
47.4 
5.4 
41.1 
0.9 
14.3 
5.0 
80.7 
38.8 
3.4 
31.9 
0 5 
14.3 
4.0 
81.7 
39.9 
1.3 
37.4 
0.0 
14.3 
4.0 
81.1 
33.1 
0.8 
31.9 
0.4 
7;.5 
2.1 
20.4 
14.0 
2.2 
11.5 
0.4 
14 1 
1.7 
83.9 
76. 
11 7 
63.1 
1.2 
14.4 
1.5 
84.1 
71 ft 
8.4 
57.8 
4.8 
14.3 
2.4 
84.3 
73.6 
22.0 
49.9 
1.7 
11.3 
3.1 
82.4 
63.0 
23.(1 
43.6 
1.4 
75.0 
0.9 
31.1 
23.0 
2.1 
20.6 
.3 
92.0 
0.7 
7.3 
6.5 
1.1 
5.3 
.1 
76.6 
1.2 
22.2 
13.8 
3.9 
9.5 
0.4 
8.1) 
6.8 
85.2 
58.1 
18.4 
38.0 
1.7 
13.1 
5.4 
81.5 
51.9 
10.9 
37.6 
3.4 
11.5 
7.9 
80.6 
60.7 
23.8 
29.0 
8.9 
10.1 
7.7 
82.2 
55.7 
28.8 
17.0 
9.9 
12.7 
2.1 
85.2 
71.7 
8.4 
61.3 
2.0 
11.8 
2.3 
85.9 
67.8 
S.7 
57.1 
2.0 
(See December Paper for explanation of above figures.) 
From the above table the following is deduced 
by simple calculations: 
Table 213. 
Fodder for Milch Cows, 1,000 lbs. 
live weight. 
Rations below contain 
Organic Sub-\ 
stance in a dt- 
gestible fori:..', 
The digestible Or' 
ganic Substance 
consists of: 
o4s.g 
Carbo- 
hy¬ 
drates. 
Fats. 
as. 
as. 
as. 
as. 
Calculated Ration. 
15.5 
2.5 
12.5 
.4 
110 lbs. Young Grass. 
15.4 
2 4 
12.6 
.4 
30 lbs. Superior Upland Hay. 
15.6 
2.5 
12.8 
.3 
30 lbs. Medium Quality Hay. 
14.2 
1.6 
12.3 
.3 
30 as. Early Cur, Bog Hay.. 
13.7 
1.3 
12.2 
.2 
30 as. Better Salt Hay. 
13.8 
1.0 
12.5 
.3 
30 as. Coarse Salt Grass Hay. 
12. 
.8 
11.0 
.2 
40 as. Coarse Salt Grass Hay. 
16. 
1.1 
14.6 
.1 
35 as. Early Cut Bog Hay. 
15.9 
1.5 
14.2 
.2 
These figures indicate very plainly the essential 
difference between the young grass or superior hay 
which will, and the poorer hay which will not, 
keep stock in good condition, and enable cows to 
give a full yield of milk. The 110 lbs. of young 
succulent grass, or 30 lbs. of superior hay, supply 
as much of digestible material as a whole, and as 
much of each of tbe ingredients as the animal needs. 
30 lbs. of any one of the poorer bays supplies only 
a little less, while 35 lbs. early cut bog hay, or 40 
lbs. coarse salt hay, if the cows could digest so 
much, would furnish more material than they need. 
What tlien do (lie Poorer Hays Lack! 
It is evidently not tbe carbo-hydrates. They 
furnish nearly as much of these as even the young 
grass does. They are deficient in the fats, and espe¬ 
cially in the albuminoids. Notice how these de¬ 
crease in the above table as we go from the better 
down to the poorer bays. Our figures then accord 
with Mr. W.’s experience in saying that 
To Make Coarse Marsli Hays Equivalent to 
the Best Upland Hay, 
we must add materials rich in digestible albumin¬ 
oids and fats. For this purpose Mr. W. uses cot¬ 
ton-seed meal. Suppose now that his cows weigh 
1,000 lbs. each, and each one eats 30 lbs. of hay and 
4 lbs. of cotton-seed meal per day. They will con¬ 
sume digestible substance as follows : 
Organic 
Albumin- 
Carbo- 
Fats. 
substance. 
oids. 
hydrates. 
In 33 lbs. bog hay.13.7 
1.3 
12.2 
2 
In 4 lbs. cotton-seed meal.. 2.3 
1.2 
.7 
4 
In whole daily ration.10.0 
2.5 
12.9 
0 
In 30 lbs. sup. upland hay. 15.G 
2.5 
12.8 
3 
So our chemistry says tbe coarse bays with the cot¬ 
ton-seed meal ought to be, and experience testifies 
that they are, equal to the best hay. Suppose we 
were dealing with the better quality of salt-marsh 
bay, and wished to use it for wintering young 
stock, oxen not working, or dry cows, for which 
medium or poor hay would suffice. Wc have: 
Organic Albumin■ 
- Carbo- Fats. 
substance. 
oids. 
hydrates. 
In 30 lbs. better salt hay. 
13.8 
1.0 
12.5 
3 
In 2 lbs. cotton-seed meal 
1.1 
.G 
.3 
1 
In whole ration. 
14.9 
1.6 
12.8 
4 
In 30 lbs. medium hay... 
14.1 
1.6 
12.3 
3 
Here 2 lbs. of cottonseed meal, added to 30 lbs. of 
better quality salt hay, makes it equal to 30 lbs. 
medium upland hay. At this rate 133 lbs. of cot¬ 
ton-seed meal would suffice for a ton of salt-marsh 
hay. And about 267 lbs. would be needed for a 
ton of early-cut bog bay. Cotton-seed meal costs 
about here from $1.80 to $3.20 per 100 lbs. At $3 
per cwt., the 267 lbs. needed to make a ton of good 
bog hay equal in composition to a ton of the best 
upland hay, would cost $5.33, and the 133 lbs. 
needed to make the salt bay equal to medium hay, 
would cost $2.66. 
Mr. W. is getting into the way of selling his best 
hay and using the poorer hay cn his farm. When 
good hay brings $30, or even $15 to $20 a ton, it is 
easy to see why he believes so thoroughly in cot¬ 
ton-seed meal. 
Other nitrogenous foods would of course do in 
the place of the cotton-seed meal. Table SI above 
gives the composition of some, such as peas, beans, 
malt-sprouts, etc., from which it is easy to calcu¬ 
late the proper proportions to be used. But let it 
be remembered that these figures only represent 
general averages, and in the nature of things can¬ 
not be absolutely correct for any special case. 
Their chief use is for general indications rather than 
for specific calculations. Some allowances, learned 
by care in practice, are needed by the variation 
in quality of hay, difference in animals, etc., but 
the general principles set forth are of quite practi¬ 
cal importance to all breeders of animals. 
Would not Potatoes or Corn-meal Suffice, In¬ 
stead of tile Highly Nitrogenous Foods J 
In Walks and Talks for last month, the writer 
thinks I “ will allow him to add ” corn-meal to my 
“ prescription ” for mixtures to be used with poor 
hays and straws. Certainly, only these “ prescrip¬ 
tions ” are not mine. They are given by men who 
have devoted years upon years of time, and thou¬ 
sands upon thousands of dollars of money, to the 
special study of these questions, by feeding experi¬ 
ments. And they say that in these cases the nitro¬ 
genous foods are more economical than the car¬ 
bonaceous corn-meal, etc. Still, when the former can 
not be had, the latter may often be used with profit. 
