FARM & FIELD

Lake County Press, Issue 2697, 30 August 1917, Page 7

FARM & FIELD

JRICJMAL ARTIGLtfe .Hv rc.fi.; VALUE OF PROTEIN.

In colder countries, where handfeeding is systematically and generally practised, dairymen naturally study feeding problems very closely. They look at the subject from various points of view, amongst others being the value of the manure produced. They endeavour to grow as much of the food consumed as possible on the farms, but are careful to provide what they term balanced rations. One authority says: crops should be fed on the farm. Good, prompt, handling of the manures leaves about 85 per cent, of the fertility taken from the land in the crops. Protein is the mainstay for making milk. It is also necessary to furnish repair material for wasted tissues of the animal. Carbohydrates and fat furnish fuel and energy for the living machinery. Each pound of digestible protein is good for about ten quarts of milk. Now, pro-1 tein can be used also as fuel to furnish energy. If the fuel given in cai.iohydrates' and fat is not enough protein will be burned up. If more protein is furnished than necessary it will bo lost in the manures. While one pound of protein is good for about 10 quarts of milk ; as pure it furnishes less than one-tenth of what is required by a cow for a single day. Used as fuel, therefore, protein is very expensive. Seventeen and one-half pounds of clover hay furnishes enough energy and repair material a day for a 1,000 pound cow. But it gives nearly a half pound more protein than is required for repair material. That is, what would make about 4} quarts of milk a day is lost in the manure. With milk costing a penny a quart 1 to produce this loss is 4£d. a day, or £6 17s. 3d. a year. That is a serious

loss. If the same kind of mistake is made in adding the milk ration—for a milk ration must he added to that furnished for energy and repair—it is easy to run this loss up to over £lO Bs. 4d. a cow a year. The cow's machinery is made to furnish a certain amount of- milk. It cannot do tlfis unless tho ration is balanced so as to keep that machine well repaired, well cleaned, well oiled, and well supplied with good fuel and good milk making material. Many a cow that is hardly breaking even with her feed would make her owner a good snug profit if sho were properly fed. The economy which cuts down the cow's ration is short-sighted.

BROWN LEGHORNS. The Brown Leghorn is the most i idelv distributed variety of all the | iCghorn family. The white variety i, , loliably kept in larger numbers it close proximity to a market, where exceptionally largo white fresh eggs ara in great demand. The brown Leghorn is reputed to bo a better layer than tho white, but to lay a somewhat smaller, and less nearly white egg. There are, however, strains produced by careful selection, which lay as large eggs as the whites. Like their cousins they rarely want to sit, are very active, excellent foragers, well adapted to farm rang"e. but not to confinement in small yards. The larger strains make excellent broilers and small roasters, but as egg producers they are most notable. A large number of people can make them profitable in that way than by rearing almost any other breed. The reason for that is. probably, because they are less likely to be put out of condition by injudicious feeding, and they are hardier than other layers of ' white eggs. j

The Use of Lime.

An important function which lime performs when applied to cultivated land is that of a liberator of "lockedup" or inactive plant food. The nitrogen and mineral constituents of the organic—vegetable and animal—matter in the soil exist in great part in forms in which they are available to plants only with extreme slowness: but, when brought under the influence of caustic lime, the organic matter undergoes more rapid decomposition, and its useful constituents are liberated, the nitrogen as ammonia and nitric acid, and the mineral constituents as soluble compounds. Thus, then, we are enabled to explain that wise old maxim—"The more dung, the more lime." Land that is well manured at regular intervals in a rotation of crops with farmyard manure would become loaded with or ganic matter rich in slowly availabl plant food; but, by judicious use o time upon land thus treated, tho un necessary and unprofitable accumulation of dormant plant nutriment is prevented. The beneficial action of lime upon the soil is not, however, confined to the organic part of it, but also oxtends to the mineral part. Potash, silica, and other useful substances exist in tho soil, mainly in the form of insoluble silicates, in felspar and other undecomposed minerals that formed part of the rocks from which the soil was derived. When lime is mixed with tho soil, it gradually liberates these substances from their insoluble combinations, and renders them available for vegetable growth.

GERMS AND MI'JC.

Invariably tho germs which have a harmful influence or resting-place among unclean surroundings is whercever there are any accumulations of foulness there will be hordes of germs. Every time such accumulation is stirred numbers of bacteria are thrown into the air, whence they settle with harmful effects. Consequently when milk is drawn from cows in such surroundings it becomes contaminated, and gives all sorts of trouble later in tho dairy. Perfect cleanliness, fresh air and sunlight are the best means of preventing contamination by discouraging the growth of the harmful germs. The useful ones are then given a chance to perform their dtltj and prevent undesirable change: taking place. This is the whole philosophy of bacteriology in the dairy. Do not sow seeds too deeply, as main crops fail on this account. Do not apply rank manure to soil in which tap-rooted vegetables such as beetroots or parsnips are to be grown. It was a far-seeing man who wrote long ago:—"Some day thou shalt know by experience how sad a path it is to be dependent on others." It is on rich soils that artificial fertilisers, judiciously used in conjunction and supplementing farmyard manures, produce tho most profitable'results. Those farmers not already possessing power would do well to now mstal a suitable oil engine. These work cheaply, and save both time and hand and horse labour. Do not forget that crops of peas, beans, onions, carrots, and many others are greatly benefited by light dressing of soot, fowl manure, or nitrate of soda during showery weather.

PICS AND MILK.

Buttermilk, skim-milk, and all kuds of root crops aro valuable for pig feed only when mixed with other solid feed, such as pollard, grain, meal, or oilcake. Under fair conditions, and properly handled, it will turn out 1001b. of pork for every 4001b. of grain equivalent given to it. ft takes 75 per cent, of the food given to the pig to provide animal heat and sustain the vital functions. The other 25 per cent, goes to making pork. Suppose that a pig of 1001b. live weight could eat 4001b. of grain or its equivalent a day, and it was given only 31b., the result would be that nothing would bo gained, because at the end of the month tho pig would be only 1001b. weight, as the 31b. a day would use up before reaching tho pork-making stage. On th< other hand, if it were given lib. mor< a day it would put on lib. of pork I a day. A great deal of money is lost by giving the pigs less than enough, and so losing all we give him.

Vou rarelv ever run across a man who has fallen exhausted from following the dictates of his conscience.

"1 don't understand what all the girls see in Jack Smith. He's a« homely as sin." "Yes, and just as at tractive."

"Is May jealous of her husband!''' •'.Jealous!' Why, on their wedding fcrij sho wouldn't even let him admire th( scenery."

"The proof of the pudding is in the eating," remarked the cook. "Very true," said tho diner, "but sometimes it requires an autopsy to find it."

"Doctor, how soon do you think V ; l)e well enough to cat things that don', agree with me?" "Do vou know, old chap, it costs mo 010,000 a rear to live." "That's a lot of money. Do you really think it s worth it?" '