43S 
THE BUBAL 
4 
practice, and was among the first to give pub 
licity to these tables in our agricultural press, 
but, en nearly every occasion, distinctly 
stated that these valuations were not to be 
considered as fixing the precise value with us, 
but only 'an approximation to the relative 
value of the difl'ereflt elements, and that per¬ 
haps these needed very considerable modifica¬ 
tions ; still, 1 have maintained that these 
tables were the nearest approximation to a 
feeding standard, that the farmer has at his 
command. Here is, at least, an attempt to 
give a basis of comparison in the value of 
foods, founded upon chemical principles and 
careful experiments. And it. is not too much 
to say that this contribution of the Germans 
to the science of feeding is an immense 
stride, in a practical point of view, beyond 
anything extant before them, or that has ap¬ 
peared up to this time. 
It would seem, therefore, that Mr. San¬ 
born’s warning to farmers not to be misled by 
these tables was given without due considera¬ 
tion of the case. A more definite basis, and 
one more easily tested by the average farmer, 
would be eagerly sought; hut it is quite evi¬ 
dent that this German standard is a great im¬ 
provement on the prior one of considering 
nitrogen as the only valuable element in food. 
This, more reasonably, takes into considera¬ 
tion till the elements of food, and attempts to 
give a proper proportionate value to each. 1 
am inclined to agree so far with Mr. Sanborn, 
as that this German standard probably over¬ 
estimates the comparative value of albumin, 
oids to carbohydrates, but the error is not so 
great as to overthrow the value of the stand¬ 
ard. It is probable that a neaier approxima¬ 
tion of the comparative value of albuminoids 
to carbohydrates would be 1 of the former to 
4 of the latter, instead of 1 to 4.8, and that fat 
should be estimated as 1 to 8 of other carbo¬ 
hydrates, instead of 1 to 4.8, as fat is only 
estimated as having times the thermal 
power of starch. 
Mr. Sanborn takes for contrast an extreme 
case of cotton-seed meal as compared with 
meadow hay. He thinks it quite “preposter¬ 
ous” that cotton-seed meal could be worth 3.0 
times as much as hay. Let us examine this a 
moment. Cotton-seed meal is extremely rich 
in albuminoids and fat, is entirely an un¬ 
balanced food by itself alone. Now, its value 
consists in supplying albuminoids and fat to 
foods greatly deficient in these elements—such 
as straw, etc. Let us see how far this extrava¬ 
gant estimate may be justified. The following 
ration, composed of 20 pounds of oat straw 
and 2 pounds of cotton seed meal, will illus¬ 
trate : 
t) 
® T 
Digestible 
nutrients. 
p 0 
®93 
33 
®o 
■ 0> 
; & 
> 
? c 
: §. 
: c 
, c_ 
: E 
• SB 
Carbohy¬ 
drates, tbs . 
P 
(t 
& 
00 
20 pounds oat straw. 
17.2ft 
0.28 
8.02 
0.12 
2 “ cottonseed meal.... 
1.78 
0.66 
0.35 
0.83 
18.98 
0.94 
8 87 
0.45 
20 pounds oat straw. 
17.20 
0.34 
8.02 
0 12 
7 “ meadow hay. 
6.U0 
0.87 
2.87 
0.07 
Standard ration for oxen In 
23.39 
0.65 
10-89 
0.19 
stall. 
17.00 
0-70 
8 00 
0.15 
The last is the German standard mainte¬ 
nance ration for oxep of 1,000 pounds live 
weight, in stall. The first is made of 20 
pounds of straw and two pounds of cotton seed 
meal, and it will be seen that it is above tbe 
standard ration in all respects, having .24 
pound of albuminoids, and .30 pound of fat 
in excess; and the next ration is the same 
amount of straw with seven pounds of meadow 
hay to balance the two pounds of cotton-seed 
meal; but it is easy to see that the ration of 
straw with two pounds of cotton-seed meal is 
superior to that with straw and hay, as it has 
more albuminoids and more than twice as 
much fat. I have fed the first ration as well 
as the second, and found the former quite 
superior iu effect to the latter. Have been 
able to put on weight with the cotton seed 
meal and straw, but not with the straw and 
hay. The writer has also fed pounds of 
hay with 3 )4 pounds of cotton-seed meal in 
comparison with 25 pounds of hay, and found 
the 3,5^pounds of cotton-seed meal to equal the 
12 l /2 pounds of hay, so that he does not find even 
this cotton seed meal much overestimated. 
But as cotton-seed meal tends to slight con¬ 
stipation, I have always preferred flax seed 
meal, or to mix the two together. Cotton-seed 
is very rich in oil, and “new process” flax¬ 
seed meal has only about 2% per cent., there¬ 
fore when mixed they make a better balanced 
ration. I have found mixed rations of con¬ 
siderable variety the most effective and pro¬ 
fitable. A fattening ration for 1,000-pound 
cattle will require the food value of 40 pounds 
of hay, and this is short on albuminoids and 
fat, and only slightly in excess on carbohy¬ 
drates, but cattle could not digest 40 pounds 
of hay on account of its bulk. Let us, then, 
take 13 pounds of hay, four pounds of cotton¬ 
seed meal and eight pounds of com meal, an 
equivalent, accoi’ding to the German tables, 
for 27 pounds of hay, and then our formula 
will be as follows: 
No. l. 
IS pounds hay. 
4 “ cotton-seed meal__ 
8 “ corn-meal. 
11.18 
8.56 
6.&5 
21.59 
0.70 
1.33 
0.67 
— 
2.70 
5.33 
0.70 
4.85 
— 
10.88 
0.13 
0.65 
0.34 
1.12 
No. 2. 
40 pounds bay. 
Standard ration for fattening. 
34.40 1 2.16 
37.00 1 2.50 
16.40 
15.00 
0.40 
0.50 
No. 8. 
17.20 
3.56 
8.60 
29.36 
0.28 
1.83 
0.84 
2.45 
8.02 
0 70 
6.08 
14.80 
0.12 
0.65 
0.43 
1.20 
4 * M cotton-seed meal.... 
It will be seen that this last ration comes 
very close to the standard, is rather over in 
carbohydrates when the excess of fat is con¬ 
sidered. Nos. 1 and 3 are each better than 4(1 
pounds of hay. I have tried ration 1 and 3 
in comparison, by feeding 10 steers with each ( 
and tbe gain in weight from No. 3 was a frac¬ 
tion greater than from No. 1. Cotton-seed 
and flax-seed meal are peculiarly adapted to 
balancing a lotion with straw, and for this 
purpose are worth all the table rates them 
when compared with hay. 
But Mr. Sanborn thinks these values are 
quite fictitious because cotton seed meal does 
not cost $72 per ton. Neither does hay cost 
$20 per ton, only in exceptional years and in 
certain localities, and ray article was written 
to show that when hay bears this exceptional 
price grain is usually cheaper. It was not 
reasonably to be supposed that if cotton seed 
meal were worth 3.0 times as much as hay for 
mixing with cheaper foods, a purchaser would 
pay $72 per ton when he could buy it for $30 
in almost all parts of tbe country, but it would 
be a strong reason for buying that at the 
market price instead of hay. Linseed meal is 
represented as worth 2^ times as much as 
medium hay, and yet it can be bought at from 
$25 to $30 per ton. If any one does not think 
it is comparatively so valuable, let him buy a 
few hundred pounds of it and feed four pounds 
per day with straw for one month, and at the 
same time feed the same number of other 
animals upon straw with ten pounds of hay per 
day, or two pounds of linseed meal with five 
pounds of hay, and he will doubt its compara¬ 
tive value uo longer. When hay is $20 per ton, 
corn, wheat middlings, and almost every grain 
food is cheaper. Two pounds of linseed meal 
and two pounds of corn meul with straw will 
winter cows or young cattle better than 
medium hay, yet it will cost but six cents per 
day or $1.80 per month besides the straw, 
whilst the hay would cost more than double 
that amount. 
The skill of the feeder is shown by under¬ 
standing the particular quality of each of the 
various foods, and then combining those best 
adapted to the object, and costing the least 
for the result to be accomplished. 
--- 
FOOD COMBINATIONS. 
PROF. J. W. SANBORN. 
In an article iu the Rural of Jan. 21st, on 
“ Food Nutrients,” I stated a purpose to re¬ 
view the Germau tables of food values further 
if opportunity occurred. Thsir tables of food 
requirements are based upon the assumption 
that it is no matter what is the source of 
albuminoids, carbohydrates or fats, provided 
a sufficient digestible amount of these nutri¬ 
ents is dail} f consumed, Upon this view the 
Germans have constructed feeding rations in 
great abundance, made up of all sorts of com¬ 
binations of straw', stover, swale hay, clover, 
lucerne, the various grains and meals and 
such other fodders as are common in Germany. 
Following this precedent, our market is get¬ 
ting supplied with suggested food rations of 
straw, stover, swale hay, clover, good huy and 
the various grains and meals in such propor¬ 
tions as to give to a 1,000-pound fattening 
steer 2.5 pounds of albuminoids, 15 pounds of 
earbbydrates, and 0.5 pound of fats daily, 
the rations all being made up to come to this 
or to a given standard of the above-named 
nutrients, regardless of their source, whether 
straw or hay, com meal or bran, etc., ouly 
it is claimed that the amount digestible 
must be furnished from each scource, the Ger¬ 
man table being used to determine how much 
of each is digestible. 
Such a view at first looks plausible, and is 
made acceptable because backed by Germans 
who have experimented, and, stronger than 
all, the view has come all the way across the 
Atlantic and carries tbe weight that distant 
work always does. The conclusions are im¬ 
ported, and generally not the methods of arriv¬ 
ing at those conclusions. On every hand there 
is evidence that Americans are about to do 
better, mere impartial and fuller work than 
Europe has yet done. I must not be under¬ 
stood as holding lightly the work of Germans. 
It is invaluable and necessary in the light of 
first Steps, but not conclusive. There are 
several points in their conclusions that, 
from my work at our College farm, I 
should at least deem very question¬ 
able. Among them I question very seriously 
whether the sources of food nutrients 
do not make a material difference in their 
efficacy. It I am right, this ration-making 
business amounts to nothing on basis only as a 
pleasing delusion,and we have to fall back upon 
the basis of actual feeding trials for each com¬ 
bination as yet. 
I should regret this fact—that the German 
work is not to stand—were it not for the be¬ 
lief that we can make more economical rations 
than their views would seem to admit. Thus 
they claim that 0.7 pound of albuminoids, 
8.0pouuds of carbohydrates and 0.15 pound 
of fats are required daily to maintain exis¬ 
tence—or for food of support—of a 1000-pound 
steer. Now I have frequently made a pound 
of growth daily on much loss than this claimed 
food of support for a 1000-pourid animal. In 
my last trial 1.37 pound of growth was made 
on 7.4 pounds of digestible organic matter 
where S.85 pounds are claimed for no growth. 
Iudeed, I have bad a steer grow continuously 
for 49 days on one-half of the albuminoids and 
three-quarters of the earbo hydrates of this 
standard food of support of German tables. 
But as to the combinations, I have universal¬ 
ly fonnd that either of Che coarse foods—Straw 
stover or swale hay—supplemented by about 
three pounds of cotton seed meal or some 
other but right meal, are more economical of 
organic matter used than good hay according 
to results obtained, or, to repeat the state¬ 
ment I made to the Massachusetts Board of 
Agriculture at Bridgewater, 1 have fre¬ 
quently got as good results from 65 pounds of 
digestible organic matter iu oat straw and 
some one of the meals, as from 100 pounds of 
digestible organic matter in Tmvutli r hay— 
Pbleutn pratense. In the case just given, 
where 7.4 pounds of digestible organic matter 
per steer were used for 1.37 pound of gx-owth, 
a little over 14 pounds were given iu 
Timothy hay to another pair of steers-, each 
for less than a pound each of growth, I will 
state tbe conclusions of what I consider care¬ 
ful trials accompanied by daily weights and 
analyses of foods used, in the assertion that it 
does make a great difference whence the 
source of food nutrients, aud I will add, in 
brief, for the practical feeders, that the com¬ 
bination of grains or mealswit.h our coarser 
foods is economical and effective, and with me 
by weight, etc., not gen -rally over two thirds 
as costly as Timothy hay alone. I will not 
take space, however desirable, to discuss now 
the economical bearings of the question. It 
is ouly my present purpose to warn against 
the blind acceptance of tables and to encour¬ 
age more cureful inquiry and the review of 
this German work bj onr Colleges of Agri¬ 
culture and by our multiplying Experiment 
Stations. 
Ag. Coll., Hanover, N. H. 
TOBACCO GROWING NOTES. 
J. J. P., p. 43, asks regarding the best 
uses for tobacco stems for fertilizing purposes. 
I have used tobacco refuse iu a small way for 
ordinary farm crops—corn, potatoes, grass 
and even tobacco—and am led thereby to con¬ 
sider tobacco stems valuable for fertilizing 
purposes. I have never used them for manur¬ 
ing fruit trees, but would not hesitate to 
recommend them in the way spoken of. A 
neighbor tells me he finds tobacco stalks (by 
which is meant the main stalk of the tobacco 
plant) applied about currant and gooseberry 
bushes an effectual remedy for the curraut 
worm, These stalks are considered by most 
farmers valuable for applying to grass lands, 
especially old pastures, and when thus used 
produce a decidedly visible benefit, making tbe 
grass grow luxuriantly and of a deep green 
color. I have often applied them upon sod 
ground to be plowed down for corn and in 
several instances have been able to detect 
their effects upon the crop. 
But, as with all kinds of farm manure, so 
with tobacco stems and stalks—the more valu¬ 
able fertilizing qualities are readily leachsd 
out by exposurerain or snow. In view of 
this fact, tobacco stalks should be drawn to 
the field immediately after tbe leaves have 
been stripped therefrom, or kept under cover. 
When left scattered about, during the Winter 
and Spring, exposed to snow- and heavy rains, 
their value is greatly curtailed and but little 
effect will be seen from their use in any form, 
although even then I consider them worth 
drawing to the field. In hauling stable man¬ 
ure in Winter upon ground to be planted the 
following Summer with tobacco, it is best to 
unload it in large piles, unless already tolera¬ 
bly well rotted or free from coarse litter. 
Very coarse rnuuure should not be applied to 
tobacco ground soon to be planted, as it inter¬ 
feres with the growth of the plants and also 
with the cultivation of the tobacco patch. 
As a rule, tobacco growers will find it to 
their advantage to assort their crops before 
they are visited by the buyers. A crop of to¬ 
bacco carefully assorted and the leaves tied in 
neat, systematic “hands” or “hanks” will 
show better than if left in the buudle. Es¬ 
pecially is this true of tobacco of inferior 
quality; or if a small portion of a crop is poor 
it will attract less attention from buyers if as¬ 
sorted and the leaves placed in their respec¬ 
tive grades. It is a well known fact that 
dealers usually select the poorer bundles to 
buy from, iu eases where crops are not as¬ 
sorted. It is my rule, when assorting tobacco, 
to place all doubtful leaves into slower grade. 
Thus each grade is made good of its kind, 
which is an important point. Many growers 
there are who aim to make as many of the 
higher grades as possible, and hence crowd in 
leaves that properly belong to a lower grade. 
There Is nothing gained by this, and on the 
other hand dealers are quick to note too close 
assorting, and havetheir opinions accordingly, 
with results usually adverse to the growers’ 
interest. G. A. O,, JR. 
GARDEN TALK NO. 2. 
WALDO F. BROWN. 
“ Making Garden.” 
The first week iu March of that year we had 
a few warm days, and I found my garden hid 
dried off until it was in good condition to 
work. 1 sent word to the Squire to come over 
and see me “ make gaiden.” He was on hand 
early the next morning, although he told me 
that he did not believe it was possible to do 
anything in thagardeu, for he had been out to 
see bis before coming over to my house, aud had 
found itso wet that he would mire if he walk* d 
over it. We walked out to the garden and 
found it in such a condition that with the 
foot we could burrow into it and make a fur¬ 
row sufficient to have planted peus in. We 
ran over one bed a rod wide and eight loug 
with a disk Jiarrow aud then bitched one horse 
to a light plank drag, and in less than twenty 
minutes we had it ready to plant. 
“Where is your garden rake?” said the 
Squire, as I Was unhitching from the drag. 
“ What do you w-ant with a rake ?” I asked. 
“ Just examine that anil see if you could im¬ 
prove it with a rake ?” 
The Squire walked out on to it aud exam¬ 
ined it carefully. 
“ It is as flue as you could ask on thesurface” 
said he, “ but wont you liud clods when you 
make it up into be'ds i ” 
“ I call that a bed now,” I replied, “and a 
good one, too; don’t you see that it still keeps 
its rounding shape so that the water will run 
offl” 
“But how are you going to plant it, and 
what will you put in ? ” asked the Squire. 
“ It wont take loug to show you,” 1 answer¬ 
ed. 
I stepped into my tool shed near by and 
came out with a garden line and my band 
plow. I had on 1 he plow—which I push before 
me like a wheelbarrow—a sharp, narrow 
shovel, two inches wide. 1 stretched the line 
near one edge of the lied, and with my plow 
opened a furrow, and then with the Squire at 
the ot her end to help me change the line, over 
18 inches, I laid off another row as I 
came back. The remainder of the beds I laid 
off in rows of 15 inches apart, and found, 
when done, that I hud twelve rows I went 
through the two rows that were 18 
inches apart again with the hand plow to 
deepen them, for I like to cover peas pretty 
deep. Iu Jess than an hour the bod was 
planted. There were two rows of peas—one 
of Tom Thumb and the other of McLean’s 
Little Gem ; then two rows of beets—the first 
Early Egyptian and the other Extra Early 
Blood Turnip; then a row of spinach, and one 
of lettuce, one end of the latter being Early 
Curled Silesia, aud the other Prize Head, for 
Summer use. Next I sowed onion seed in two 
rows, Yellow Danvers and White Portugal, 
and set out two rows of onion sets. The two 
remaining rows 1 sowed in radish seed mixed 
with Early Winuingstadt Cabbage. 
“ What is that for ? ” said the Squire. 
“Well, five cents’ worth of cabbage seed 
plants the two rows, and if the Spring happens 
to lie a favorable one I often get cabbages from 
them quicker than from the plants grown in 
hot beds. Where ever a good plant starts, I 
pull out the radishes and let it stand, and if 
the plants are too thick 1 can transplant with 
a garden trowel, with earth enough so that 
they will not wilt at all. Plants grown in the 
open ground are much more hardy than those 
that are grown under glass, and the latter are 
ofteu grown so thick th it they are spindling.” 
The Squire went away much pleased, telling 
me that his garden should be underdrained 
aud plowed the next Fall. We had several 
days of clear weather with but little frost at 
