THE WISCONSIN FARMER.



The iest Geomiad Dispuidtion of Straw.

  As an article of food, straw can properly rank
next to marsh hay; for it is all that we can do
to keep our stock thrifty on such hay, and it
requires but a little extra feed to do the same
on straw.
  There are two points to be particularly
taken into account in feeding straw most pro-
fitably  First, the greatest amount of good to
be obtained for the stock: and secondly, the
value of the manure.
  The best results that can be attained, prac-
tically, I think, will depend on the following
principles: Make a point of feeding the straw
to young stock between the ages of two and
five years. Make another point, and a decided
one too, of raising enough roots to give each
animal a peck a day regularly.
  I think it is conceded that in order to do
well an animal must have something to fill up
its stomach, whether it has any nutriment in
it or not. Straw will do this, and if aided
with roots is sufficiently nutritious. It has,
no doubt, been noticed by all farmers that straw
has a very astringent effect upon their stock.
No animal can do well when it is too costive.
Potatoes, turnips, and all such articles rectify
this tendency and keep the animal in good
condition. The droppings are much more val-
uable also. Whether it will pay to cut the
straw depends much upon the relative price ol
labor. All stock should be housed and wel.
bedded in cold weather.  W. A. B. BA~nS.
  KimasTos, Wis., Dec. 1862.

  WHISKY AND NXWSPAPERS.-A glass of whis
  ky is manufactured from perhaps a dozer
  grains of corn, the value of which is too snall
  to be estimated. A pint of this mixture sellb
  for one shilling, and if of a good brand is con
  sidered well worth the money. It is drank it
  a minute or two-it fires the brain, sharpeni
  the appetite, deranges and weakens the phys
  ical system. On the same sideboard upoi
  which this delicious beverage is served lies E
  newspaper. It is covered with half a millioi
  of, types-it brings intelligence from the fou:
  quarters of the globe.  The newspaper costi
  less than the glass of grog-the juice of a fes
  grains of corn; but it is no less strange thai
  true that there is a large portion of the coin
  munity who think the corn juice cheap, am
  the newspaper dear !-Scientific American.



    The NAt Heemioal UM of Straw.

 We are all supposed to use straw like every-
hing else, so that we may get the most dollars
and cents for it, and for the time and labor
oestowed.
My mode of treating straw is, when it leaves
he maohine, to put it into the barnyard in a tidy
stack, to which sheep, cattle and colts can have
free access while they are in winter quarters.
rhen I throw off every morning and let them
pick the best during the day, and at night, be-
fore putting them into their stalls, I gather up
Lnd put in for bedding a good supply, so that
.t may absorb all the liquid manure. The next
lay it is wheeled into the barnyard-the great
receptacle for all manures-and the following
ipring or autumn it is taken to the field and
plowed under the surface as deep as a good
Learn can do it.
It is a common practice among farmers to
spend an hour or two each day in cutting straw,
so that they can coax their animals to eat it;
and still more common to throw it out as it
comes from the thresher, and say to them,
"s Eat that or nothing. If you die before spring
it won't be because you have had nothing to
eat." That kind of farming always reminds
me of the man who skinned a flint worth a
cent, and spoiled his jack-knife worth eighteen
pence.
  Much more might be said, but the stiffened
fingers of farmers require them to be very
brief, if they write at all, at this season of the
year                           IRA BLISS.
SssBOvCAs, Dec. 1862.


  SHaINIKING OF HAY AND CORN BY DRYING.-
An exchange states that the loss upon hay
weighed July 20th, when cured enough to put
into the barn, and again February 20th, has
been ascertained to be 271 per cent. So that
hay at $15 a ton in the field, is equal to $20
and upwards when weighed from the mow in
winter. The weight of cobs in a bushel of
corn in November, ascertained to be full 19
pounds in November, was only 7f pounds in
May.
  This matter of shrinkage is one of which
farmers do not usually make sufficient aocount
when they decide to kold on for better prics.



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