PRACTICAL PAPERS—USE OF STRAW. 
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ECONOMICAL USE OF STRAW ON THE FARM. 
BY LEWIS CLARK, BELOIT. 
In order to present this subject properly, it should be con¬ 
sidered in relation to the various conditions and circumstances 
in which the straw is raised, and is to be used ; as the size, lo¬ 
cation and character of the farm ; the amount of grain raised ; 
the capital employed; whether machinery can be used in work¬ 
ing it up, the amount and kind of stock kept ; etc., etc. I 
shall not attempt to speak of it in all these relations, or to set 
forth its chemical properties and intrinsic value for the differ¬ 
ent purposes for which it may be used, but will confine myself 
to the most important, practical uses that can be made of it in 
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the great majority of cases. 
At the outset, I would protest against the most common 
method of disposing of it—burning—as the poorest possible 
use to which it can be put. Its whole value is thus dissipated 
in thin air, and borne away by the winds, to our own loss and 
the injury of posterity. . 
Another method, adopted by many, is but little better, that 
is, to permit the stock to pull, run over and trample it down 
in the stack or pile. A small portion may be eaten, and hence 
a little benefit be derived, but the great bulk is trodden under 
foot and wasted. Were the refuse removed frequently, and a 
chance given to get at the clean straw, a larger portion would 
be eaten, but it would still be attended with much waste. 
To begin with, if we would derive the greatest possible ben¬ 
efit from our k straw it must be properly secured. As much 
care should be taken to keep it dry and bright as we take with 
hay. If the grain is stacked, special pains should be taken to 
secure the straw as well as the grain from injury by the weath- 
