THE UNIVERSITY 
 
 OF ILLINOIS 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
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 ACWCULTIIPr 
 
WON CIRCULATING 
 
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UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS. 
 
 Agricultural Experiment Station. 
 
 URBANA, AUGUST, 1894. 
 
 BULLETIN NO 36. 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 STOCK FEEDING IN ILLINOIS. 
 INDEX TO BULLETINS, No. 17-36. 
 
 STOCK FEEDING IN ILLINOIS. 
 
 Illinois has long been one of the chief stock breeding and feeding 
 states of the Union. The condition of the cattle breeding and feeding 
 industry of the state has been unsatisfactory for nearly a decade of 
 years. Prices for both pure bred and fat cattle have greatly declined, 
 and while they have temporarily advanced at times, the range of prices 
 for several years past, has been such as to give little or no profit to 
 breeders and feeders as a class. During this time there has been a not- 
 able advance in the price of farm land over much of the state, with a corre- 
 sponding increase in its rental value. While there has been increased at- 
 tention to the dairy interests of the state, there has been a large decline 
 in the beef cattle breeding and feeding. The number of herds of pure 
 bred beef cattle in the state has decreased, as has the number of cows 
 kept for rearing cattle for fattening. Especially in the great feeding 
 regions of central Illinois, large areas of fine pasture lands have been 
 plowed up and devoted to grain growing. 
 
 The conditions surrounding hog breeding and feeding have been 
 more favorable. There have been marked fluctuations in price, but as a 
 whole, a fair margin of proof has been secured by careful breeders and 
 feeders. The present interest in both branches of the business, is per- 
 haps as great as at any former time. 
 
 Sheep breeding, during several recent years, was perhaps the most 
 profitable branch of animal industry for many Illinois farmers. In- 
 
 421 
 
422 BULLETIN NO. 36. [ 
 
 creasing numbers of sheep were brought from ranches arid ranges of the 
 further west for feeding in the state. Within the last two years, how- 
 ever, there has been a great decline in prices of sheep and wool of all 
 grades, and there is much discouragement among both breeders and 
 feeders. 
 
 The widely extended and unusually severe drought of the present 
 summer will have on all branches of the live stock industry, far reach- 
 ing effects, some of which it is impossible to predict. The lessened ag- 
 gregate yields of almost all the stock food crops of the country, almost 
 certainly insures fairly high prices for these for the present season, and 
 probably for another year, so far as corn at least is concerned. Wheat 
 is a marked exception in price to the other grain crops. There seems 
 little reason to anticipate any considerable increase in price for this grain 
 in the near future, and already there is large use of wheat as a food for 
 farm animals. The lessened supply and higher price of food in several 
 of the great stock states of the west will tend to increase the number of 
 cattle, hogs, and sheep forwarded to the market, or for feeding in Illinois. 
 It is probable that the effect may be favorable to Illinois breeders and 
 feeders for a few years to come. 
 
 Especially in cattle and sheep feeding it is obvious that only the 
 wisest economy can give a satisfactory profit to the Illinois feeders. 
 lEconomy of production is vastly more important than possibilities of 
 production. An attempt may be made to secure the lessened cost of 
 production, by a reduction of the quantity or cost of the food, land, or 
 labor used. 
 
 PRACTICE OF ILLINOIS STOCK FEEDERS. 
 
 A record of the practice of experienced and intelligent farmers is 
 invaluable in any discussion of best methods of stock feeding. To secure 
 such a record of practice in Illinois 250 circular letters, containing a 
 series of questions concerning opinions and practice in feeding cattle, 
 hogs, and sheep, were sent to as many farmers in the state. The list of 
 names was made up by the assistance of members of the Board of 
 Direction of this Station, and of the State Board of Agriculture. 
 Answers were received from 108 men, well representing the different 
 classes of stockmen of the state. A few are well known breeders of 
 pure bred stock; some fatten large numbers, others but few animals; 
 some rear all their feeding stock, others buy all or a part. Nearly all 
 parts of the state, except the extreme south, are represented. It is be- 
 lieved very few, if any, of those who sent answers represent any unusual 
 conditions or practice, except in minor particulars. 
 
 Of the 108 reporting, 86 feed cattle, 102 hogs, and 44 sheep. Thirty- 
 four report concerning all three classes of stock; 49 concerning cattle 
 and hogs; 13 on hogs alone; three on sheep alone. These figures well 
 illustrate the facts that hog feeding almost invariably accompanies cattle 
 
1894-] STOCK FEEDING IN ILLINOIS. 423 
 
 feeding in Illinois, and that sheep are kept by only a minority of Illinois 
 farmers. Only about one-third of the replies contained reports on sheep; 
 several reports stating that the writers had never owned a sheep. 
 
 Much most valuable information was obtained from the replies to 
 the questions sent out; but it is difficult to tabulate this information as 
 some of the questions were somewhat general, and not all were answered 
 directly. 
 
 CATTLE FEEDING. 
 
 Of the cattle feeders 62 name Shorthorns as the breed preferred or 
 handled; seven name Herefords, six Angus, and one Galloway, as first 
 choice. In a majority of cases it is evident that pure bred cattle are not 
 referred to. In a good number of cases, where a preference is men- 
 tioned, it is coupled with statement showing that other classes are 
 handled from necessity. Several reports mention " Durhams " instead 
 of the more usual name Shorthorn. A few dairy farmers reported on 
 hog feeding, but their answers concerning cattle are not included. 
 
 Of 77 feeders answering the question, 22 rear the cattle they feed, 
 27 buy them, and 28 do both. 
 
 Of 72 feeders, 26 believe grain feeding to young steers on good 
 pasture is profitable. Several limit their approval of the practice to 
 cases where it is expected to sell the steers within a few months. 
 
 Of 83 feeders, 23 make no provision for extra food for grazing 
 cattle in case of drouth, aside from aiming not fully to stock the pastures; 
 22 reserve a special pasture, and 38 feed grain or hay usually green 
 corn. 
 
 There is a wide divergence of opinion as to age of steers preferred 
 for full grain feeding. Of 80 feeders answering, six name under two 
 years, 1 1 two years, nine between two and three years, 36 three years, 
 10 between three and four years, six four years, and two give five years 
 as maximum age. Obviously, making <c baby beef" has not become 
 a common practice in Illinois, while it is equally obvious that feeding 
 cattle of four years or greater age is much less common than was the 
 case some years ago. 
 
 There is also wide difference in practice as to time when full feeding 
 is begun. Four feeders advise continous full feeding from birth of the 
 calf. The practice of others is influenced by the fact that they buy the 
 cattle they feed. Each of the four seasons and almost every month of 
 the year are specified by different feeders. The fall months seem most 
 in favor; next the winter or very early spring. 
 
 In response to the question " How long is it profitable to continue 
 full feeding ? " the answers are somewhat indefinite. Several feeders 
 reply, " 'till the cattle are fat " ; others that the state of the market 
 determines time of sale; 45 say from three to six months, five, three 
 months or less, and six over six months, one of these giving twelve 
 months as maximum. 
 
424 BULLETIN NO. 36. [August, 
 
 Corn is the great food used in fattening cattle, aside from grass and 
 clover. Seventy-eight feeders specify corn, 21 of these naming shock 
 corn; five name oats, four oil meal or cake, and one glucose meal. 
 Twenty name hay, most frequently clover hay, and a very few name 
 straw. 
 
 As to methods of preparation, six feeders mention grinding corn, 
 25 either break, chop, split, or crush the ears, and nine use shelled corn. 
 
 As to frequency of feeding, nine feeders name once, 48 twice, four 
 three times, and one, five times a day. 
 
 Fifty-five feeders pronounce stable or stall feeding unprofitable, 
 while eleven think the practice profitable. Fifty-two name sheds, four 
 barns, and ten straw stack, hedges, or timber as shelter given their 
 cattle. 
 
 Four feeders only state that they have used ensilage, and one of 
 these says, " very little." Of those who refer to time of cutting corn 
 for fodder most prefer cutting at a rather early stage of maturity. 
 
 Ten feeders indicate that bran, middlings, oil meal, etc., are used 
 by. them; 42 state that they do not use them, or to a very limmited 
 extent. The form of the question makes it probable that those who 
 made no reply do not use these foods for fattening cattle. 
 
 Fifty-five feeders practice dehorning, many of them indicating their 
 belief in the decided value of the practice; 19 do not practice dehorning 
 and some of these are strongly opposed to the practice. Presumably, 
 those not answering do not dehorn their cattle. 
 
 Feeders generally attach high value to the droppings of the cattle 
 as food for hogs. Several state that without the use of this there is no 
 profit in feeding. One thinks there is little value in the droppings 
 where ground feed is used for the cattle. Nine feeders estimate the 
 value of this offal at 50 per cent of the value of the corn fed ; five at 33 
 per cent, and nine at 20 to 35 percent. One places the value at eight to 
 ten cents per bushel of corn fed ; one at three or four Ib. pork per bushel 
 fed; one at 30 to 40 Ib. pork per month. The number of hogs allowed 
 to follow a given number of steers varies, generally from one to two per 
 steer, depending on size of hogs, rate of feeding and time of year. In a 
 number of cases the brood sows with their litters of pigs are kept with 
 the cattle in the pastures. 
 
 HOG FEEDING. 
 
 Hogs are bred and fed on most Illinois farms. Of the 108 farmers 
 responding to the circular sent out, 102 make report as to hogs, although 
 only 13 reported on hogs alone. 
 
 The Poland China and Berkshire seem to be sweepingly preferred 
 among breeds 78 naming the Poland China and 21 the Berkshire as 
 breed preferred. Ten of the latter name some other breeds also. Six 
 prefer the Duroc Jersey, two the Chester white, one the Yorkshire, and 
 eight specify some cross. In many cases grades or crosses of the breed 
 
STOCK FEEDING IN ILLINOIS. 425 
 
 preferred are named as well as the pure bred stock. Only three prefer 
 white breeds. 
 
 There is a difference of opinion as to the best season at which to 
 have pigs farrowed, but the majority specify April or May; 25 like 
 March pigs, and 17 name the fall months; six name February. 
 
 Concerning no question were more diverse answers received than 
 that asking information as to methods of feeding and managing suck- 
 ling pigs. Twenty-nine reports state, that no other attention is given 
 than allowing the sows to run on pasture or follow cattle. Of the 
 others some feed corn in various forms, some oats, wheat, bran, mid- 
 dlings, oil meal, rye, and milk in various combinations. 
 
 Forty-one feeders believe full grain feeding of pigs is desirable 
 during the summer; 52 believe this is not desirable. 
 
 As to pasturage preferred, 51 name clover first or alone; 16, clover 
 and blue grass; seven, clover and timothy; and six, clover and rye. 
 
 Where the hogs do not get their food entirely from the pastures 
 and the droppings of the cattle, corn is the almost exclusive food for 
 fattening hogs, and this is generally fed in the ear. Twenty-five soak 
 corn, five mention grinding it, and two speak of cooking food for fatten- 
 ing hogs. Thirty-eight state their opinion that neither grinding soak- 
 ing nor cooking corn for hogs is profitable. Seventeen report having 
 fed wheat, generally with good satisfaction, only two pronouncing it 
 unsatisfactory. (These answers were given last spring.) 
 
 Thirteen feeders believe fattening hogs are not better for exercise; 
 eight think they should have a little exercise; most allow them to take 
 exercise somewhat freely. 
 
 Sixteen feeders prefer selling when pigs are eight months old or 
 less only one naming a less age than six months; 42 name eight to 
 12 months, and nine prefer over 12 months, 24 being maximum. 
 
 Ten feeders prefer selling at weight of 200 Ib. or less, i5olb. being 
 minimum; 15 at from 200 to 250 Ib. ; 26 at 250 to 300 Ib. ; and 14 at 
 greater weight than 300 Ib.; two naming 500 Ib. as maximum. 
 
 SHEEP FEEDING. 
 
 Of the 44 farmers reporting their experience in sheep feeding, 18 
 name the Shropshire, seven the Southdown, six "Downs", five the 
 Oxfordshire Down, one the Hampshire Down, four the Cotswold, one 
 the Lincoln, two the Merino, and five different cross bred sheep as 
 favorite breed in some cases naming more than one. 
 
 As to time at which it is preferred to have lambs dropped, 14 name 
 February, 16 March, and 22 April, three naming January and a like 
 number May, and one December. Evidently raising especially early 
 lambs is not a common practice in Illinois. 
 
 Thirty -two feeders say they feed ewes and suckling lambs grain, 
 naming corn, oats, wheat and wheat screenings, and bran. Five do not 
 
426 BULLETIN NO. 36. 
 
 feed grain in fattening sheep, 23 feed corn, 26 oats, six wheat or wheat 
 screenings, two bran, and four oil meal in various combinations. Ten 
 have fed wheat at some time, two of these reporting poor results. Seven 
 report their belief that it is profitable to grind grains for sheep. 
 
 Twenty-four keep fattening sheep in sheds, seven in barns, and 
 one reports "timber" as the shelter given. 
 
 Full feeding of sheep is not continued so long as with either cattle 
 or hogs. Six feeders name two months or less ; nine three months and 
 seven three or four months. 
 
 NOTES BY FEEDERS. 
 
 A few feeders added statements in addition to answering the ques- 
 tions, or made such statements instead of answering the questions as 
 put. Among these was the well known firm of Shorthorn breeders 
 and cattle feeders, James N. Brown's Sons, of Berlin, Sangamon Co., 
 who wrote: 
 
 "....We buy our cattle for fattening and of as good grade as we can secure. 
 We mainly fatten them on blue grass. We buy them in the fall; carry them on rich 
 stalk fields until February or March, and then feed them with corn in the ear on blue 
 grass pastures, generally quitting feeding corn May loth. We market them in August. 
 We do not handle hogs with them. We would not handle cattle at all, if we did not 
 have the blue grass pastures, as prices the past few years and now, would not pay for 
 fattening them on corn. Men who make beef on corn or dry feed, cannot make money 
 on cattle at present prices." 
 
 J. P. Henderson, Virden, Ills., wrote: 
 
 " I became tired of the cattle business some four years since, and sold off almost 
 everything in that line, only keeping a few thoroughbred Herefords for fun, and one 
 or two Jerseys for family butter. I am renting out my old pastures for corn, where 
 they have been grazed for over 30 years. I have watched with a great deal of inter- 
 est, the results of the new methods of feeding and caring for stock, and have never 
 been able to figure out a profit in them, unless indeed, a man were made of some in- 
 destructible material and could do all the work himself. The world is all trying to go 
 too fast feeding cattle at yearlings, and pigs from the day they can open their eyes. 
 We must give them some time to grow and make a frame and then it is easy to put 
 flesh on it. The stalk must grow before the ear is formed." 
 
 Benj. Whitsitt, Preemption, wrote: 
 
 ' ' In this age of overproduction and low prices, if the feeder expects to place 
 anything on the side of profit, he must feed a limited number of the very best ani- 
 mals and give them the best of care." 
 
 James A. Perry, Wilmington, after expressing his decided prefer- 
 ence for Hereford cattle, wrote: 
 
 " I no not think it profitable to feed cattle in pasture, if there is plenty of good 
 water. For many years I have found it very profitable to put in a good piece of 
 sowed corn for feeding in a dry time. As to the age of cattle for feeding, I find it all 
 depends on the make up of the cattle, as some are better feeders at two years old than 
 are some at four years, even if of the same breed. In general early feeding is the 
 most profitable. The quicker you can mature an animal the more money it will give 
 you. It is not profitable to feed after your cattle are ripe and ready for market. I 
 have made cattle gain five and one-half pounds per day for 60 days, but after that 
 not nearly that average. I have had much more success in feeding ground feed than 
 I have ever had in any other way, and I have tried almost every way and have come 
 
1894*] STOCK FEEDING IN ILLINOIS. 427 
 
 to the conclusion, that to grind corn and cob together, rather fine, is much better 
 than to feed clear meal. I have never had so good results as when I have fed five 
 times per day, but I never feed so the cattle leave the least bit in their feed boxes. 
 Cattle will not eat any more when fed five times a day, than when fed all they will 
 eat at three times, but the advantage is that you do not overload their stomachs and 
 therefore the food is more easily digested and they fatten faster on the same food. I have 
 had better success in feeding cattle kept in their stalls than in any other way of keeping 
 them. I am a great advocate of feeding bran and middlings, and think they are near- 
 ly, or quite as good as the same weight of corn. My experience in feeding oil meal is 
 limited. I am greatly in favor of dehorning cattle, as you can feed them in a much 
 smaller space and they will do much better." 
 
 Thomas Clark, Beecher, a very successful breeder of Hereford cat- 
 tle wrote that he thinks it is profitable to feed young steers on pasture 
 if they are to be turned off before they are two years old as he would 
 prefer, commencing full feeding in the spring when they are yearlings, 
 feeding either shelled corn or ground corn and oats, twice a day. He 
 uses a little oil meal for young stock. He does not think stall feeding 
 profitable for a bunch of steers, preferring an open shed with an en- 
 closed yard for winter. 
 
 Among the few who use oil meal for fattening cattle to any con- 
 siderable extent, is O. W. Hoit, Geneseo, who wrote: 
 
 "I like to give cattle about five pounds of oil meal each per day. I have fed it 
 on pasture without corn ten pounds per day and made well by it, but consider $25 a 
 ton high with corn at 30 cents a bushel." 
 
 F. O. Lash, Hendrix, wrote: 
 
 "I believe the farm should be made to produce all the feed needed for the stock, 
 with the exception of middlings, bran, and oil meal, except in times like the present 
 when wheat is cheaper than middlings; but experience has convinced me that much 
 more attention should be paid to the cultivation of beets, mangels, etc." 
 
 Thos. N. Thornburg, postoffice not stated, wrote that he feeds 150 
 to 200 cattle a year, buying them of all the beef breeds. He has cattle 
 on full feed all the year, selling when the market suits, usually feeding 
 from five to seven months, according to the flesh when he commences. 
 Sometimes he buys half fat cattle. He believes it more profitable to 
 handle two or three lots of cattle per year than only one. He tries to 
 avoid selling in the fall in competition with the rush of western cattle, 
 also in March and April. 
 
 CONCLUSIONS FROM EXPERIMENTS. 
 
 Experiments in feeding cattle and hogs have been continuously in 
 progress at this Station since it was established. Comparatively few of 
 the results have been published because of the belief that in an unusual 
 degree the value of the results of such experiments increases, not only 
 with the number of trials made, but with the number of years during 
 which the experiments are continued, and that the publication of the re- 
 sults of one or a few experiments might readily lead to wrong conclu- 
 sions. There are many disturbing conditions in experiments with soils 
 
428 BULLETIN NO. 36. 
 
 and plants, but the number of such conditions is still greater in the case 
 of animals. The peculiarities of different animals, and the variations 
 in seasons, sometimes in the quality and condition of foods supposed to 
 be practically identical, often greatly affect results. There are also 
 great practical difficulties in determining accurately the gain in weight, 
 especially in cattle feeding, or in feeding trials for short periods, or 
 where there is a marked change in the character of the food given. The 
 marked variations in the weight of animals, especially cattle, in a single 
 day, even when the weighings are made as nearly as possible under 
 like conditions show the experimenter that the apparent results may 
 not represent the true gain or loss, even when the trial has been con- 
 tinued for a considerable time. 
 
 Without attempting to give details of experiments tried, some con- 
 clusions based upon the study of them while in progress, and since their 
 completion, will be stated, special reference being had to conditions in 
 central Illinois. 
 
 It is almost never profitable to attempt to produce the greatest pos- 
 sible quantity of either weight or fat with any animal. To keep either 
 steer or hog until it has reached its largest possible size, or to feed either 
 until it has reached the practical limit of increase of fat, is almost cer- 
 tainly unprofitable. 
 
 Economy of prodution will be best secured by attempts to reduce 
 to a reasonable minimum the land used, the cost of the food, and of the 
 labor employed, rather than by giving attention to any one of these 
 points alone. Home grown foods are to be used as the chief reliance. 
 The by-products of oil mills, glucose, starch manufactories, or of dis- 
 tilleries may often be employed with profit, but usually only as supple- 
 mental to the main feeding ration. The exceptions to this rule may be 
 found in the case of farmers who can procure the by-products at little 
 cost for transportation. Good grass and clover grazed by the animal 
 is the cheapest food for the production of either beef or mutton. Indian 
 corn at customary prices, is the cheapest grain food for fattening any 
 class of farm animals, and in the large majority of cases may wisely 
 form a part of the grain ration of young animals. Oats are an extreme- 
 ly valuable food, but, one year with another, the price of this grain is 
 such as to make it unprofitable to use it as the exclusive or chief food 
 for farm animals. The value of wheat as food for farm stock, is not 
 yet fully determined. At present prices, it may more profitably be fed 
 than sold, but it is confidently believed that, in the great corn growing 
 region of the state, at least, it cannot be so cheaply raised as can an equal 
 food value in Indian corn. The stover of Indian corn, clover hay, 
 and oat straw, with possibly soy beans, and cow peas, and in excep- 
 tional cases millets grown as catch crops, should take the place of timo- 
 thy or other ordinary grass hay, in horse, cattle, and sheep feeding. 
 
 Under conditions available for most Illinois farmers, it is impossible 
 to feed stock as economically during either winter or extreme heat of 
 
1894-] STOCK FEEDING IN ILLINOIS. 429 
 
 summer, as in the spring or fall. The increased price secured, may 
 often justify feeding during the winter. Grain feeding during the sum- 
 mer is often necessary in the usual cattle feeding system. 
 
 Comparatively simple methods of feeding are as yet wisest for the 
 average stock feeder. This applies both to methods of shelter and car- 
 ing for the animal, and to the preparation of the food. The weight of 
 evidence, both by general practice and by experiments tried elsewhere, is 
 so strongly against the profitableness of cooking food, under ordinary 
 conditions in Illinois, that no experiments in this line have been tried at 
 this Station. 
 
 Grinding grain frequently gives a profit. This is especially true 
 where the small grains are to be fed. The evidence is conclusive that 
 feeding unground wheat to either cattle or hogs is a wasteful method, as 
 a considerable percentage passes through the animals undigested. If 
 impracticable to grind it, soaking is advisable. These statements also 
 apply to rye and oats. On the other hand, grinding corn to be fed 
 either to fattening cattle or to hogs is not generally profitable for Illinois 
 farmers. In a majority of cases the animals can grind it more cheaply 
 than can the farmer. Crushing the corn, especially where the ears are 
 large, more generally seems profitable in cattle feeding. Soaking the 
 corn when fed after it has become thoroughly dry is believed profitable. 
 It is assumed that hogs "follow the cattle" when they are fed unground 
 corn ; otherwise there is much waste. 
 
 Outdoor feeding of cattle is more profitable in good weather than 
 is stall feeding. It is not so clearly proved but is believed that good 
 sheds are a more profitable shelter for steers than the stable. 
 
 The old practice of keeping a cow simply to rear calves is no longer 
 profitable. If cattle of equal quality could be secured, "stackers" or 
 "feeders" could be more profitably bought than raised by central Illinos 
 feeders. 
 
 The direct increase of weight almost never repays the cost of full 
 grain feeding of cattle, at prices which have prevailed for some years 
 past. Profit must come, if at all, from increase of value of the whole 
 carcass. This should be at least one cent a pound. The value of the 
 pork made from the offal and the value of the manure must also be 
 counted. Grain feeding to young steers on good pasture is not believed 
 to be directly profitable during the best of the grazing season, but in 
 each of the last six years there have been times when such feeding was 
 profitable. Some experiments indicate that it is more profitable to give 
 full rather than partial grain rations to such cattle. In each of six years 
 past the rate of gain of steers even with abundance of grass has greatly 
 lessened on the approach of hot weather, generally about June 2Oth, 
 and the full rate was not regained until September. It again declined 
 with the approach of cold weather. 
 
 Trials for six years indicate that an acre of good "blue grass past- 
 ure" in central Illinois will support a steer weighing 800 to 1000 Ibs. 
 
43 BULLETIN NO. 36. 
 
 during the grazing season, but not allow much, if any, increase. In years 
 of summer drouth extra feed has had to be supplied. Grain fed steers 
 have been kept on one-third less acreage in about the same condition. 
 
 Experience during the present and recent dry summers strongly 
 emphasizes the chief weakness of blue grass its almost entire failure to 
 grow during dry weather. Orchard grass has been found best of the 
 ordinary grasses in this respect, but the common red clover has shown its 
 superiority to any of the smaller grasses for either hay or grazing in dry 
 years. Highly prized as are the old blue grass pastures, it seems clearly 
 proved that a greater quantity of food would be produced by putting 
 them under a rotation, with corn and clover the chief crops. This 
 would involve more labor, but in present conditions would give better 
 prospect of profits. 
 
 There is constantly increasing evidence of the great value of corn 
 stover as food for cattle, sheep, and horses and that it may wisely be substi- 
 tuted for a large part of the timothy hay fed farm animals. There are 
 practical difficulties in saving and handling it. While ensilage is largely 
 fed to dairy cows it is little used for fattening cattle. Experiments at 
 this and other stations show that the largest food value per acre is pro- 
 duced, in ordinary seasons, by planting corn more thickly than is the 
 common practice. This reduces the size of the ears and thus removes 
 one objection to feeding ear corn. In many cases it is better to feed the 
 corn without husking. There are a number of feed cutters which sat- 
 isfactorily cut stalk and ear. Shredding the stalks is preferable to cut- 
 ting. The cut stover or fodder may be safely stored in barns or sheds 
 in dry seasons, but there is danger of injury if the weather be wet so as 
 to prevent thorough drying. The corn may be shelled and the stalks 
 put in good condition for feed with an ordinary threshing machine. 
 
 Several trials show that the quantity of both corn and stover in- 
 creases until the plant is quite well matured. Early cutting involves a 
 loss. Leaving the corn uncut until fully mature increases danger of 
 loss by storms, the blowing of leaves, etc. Exposure in the fields in 
 shocks very perceptibly lessens the value of the stover. Whatever the 
 method of preparation or class of stock fed it is rarely wise to compel 
 them to eat all the stover of the large varieties of corn mainly grown in 
 Illinois. Twenty to twenty-five per cent need not be considered a large 
 amount for refuse, which may be used for litter or as an absorbent of 
 the liquid manure. 
 
 No more rapid or satisfactory gains have been secured in cattle 
 feeding than where steers have been fed the maturing corn in the past- 
 ures in September and October, until the stalks had fully matured, they 
 being fed with the ears. 
 
 The time for the profitable production of "baby beef" proper has 
 not yet come in Illinois. Usually steers may most profitably be marketed 
 when between two and three years old, if grown by the feeder. 
 
1894-] STOCK FEEDING IN ILLINOIS. 431 
 
 Hog feeding is often directly profitable. No grain has been found 
 superior to corn as a fattening food for hogs. In a majority of experi- 
 ments tried, a rate of gain of over 10 Ib. pork to one bushel of corn has 
 been gained. Where hogs are too long confined to a corn diet alone, 
 or have grown very fat, or are fed in bad weather, the rate of gain 
 often falls far below this. Wheat has not, in trials at the Station, been 
 shown better than corn, pound for pound. There has been noticeable 
 loss when fed unground, either dry or soaked. Pigs have preferred the 
 corn when this has been fed mixed with wheat. 
 
 Grass and clover are highly desirable for growing pigs and in early 
 stages of fattening. Their value, however, seems to be more in the 
 way of maintaining health and giving pleasant variety of food than in 
 causing direct increase in weight. It is not profitable to compel hogs to 
 make grass or clover their only food at any stage of their growth. 
 
 The evidence in favor of full feeding from birth to time of slaugh- 
 ter seems more conclusive in the case of hogs than with cattle. The 
 market preference as to age and weight changes frequently, but gen- 
 erally it is not desirable to keep hogs until they are more than a year 
 old. The cheapest gain in weight is usually during the pleasant 
 weather in autumn, when the hogs are fed on new crop corn, but prices 
 are usually lowest at this season. 
 
 Experience at the Station shows that it is often better to sell hogs 
 in small lots to butchers or shippers than to keep the entire lot until all 
 are fully fat. In some cases this is true with cattle. Fully fattened 
 animals are kept at a loss. 
 
 G. E. MORROW, A. M., 
 
 Agriculturist. 
 
43 3 
 
 BULLETIN NO. 36. 
 
 [August, 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Abies excelsa 241 
 
 Acer dasycarpum 233 
 
 Acer saccharinum c 232 
 
 Acid test of cream, an 389 
 
 Ailanthus glandulosus 215 
 
 Ailanthus, or tree of heaven (Ailan- 
 thus glandulosus) 215 
 
 Alkaline tablets for testing acidity of 
 
 cream 392, 399 
 
 Apple (Pyrus malus) 216 
 
 Varieties 74 
 
 Ash, green (Fraxinus viridis} 216 
 
 Automatic pipette for measuring acid. 26 
 
 Ayrshire cows, in butter test 18 
 
 Babcock milk test, manipulation of . . . 245 
 
 Basswood ( Tilia Americana) 232 
 
 Beans, varieties 75 
 
 Blackberry, tests of varieties 74, 321 
 
 Varieties described 322 
 
 Crystal white 324 
 
 Early cluster 324 
 
 Early harvest 324 
 
 Early king 324 
 
 Erie 323 
 
 Freed 324 
 
 Jewett 325 
 
 Kittatinny 324 
 
 Lincoln 324 
 
 Lovett's 324 
 
 Lucretia 325 
 
 Minnewaska 323 
 
 Missouri mammoth 323 
 
 Snyder 322 
 
 Wachusett thornless 323 
 
 Wilson, jr. and Wilson's early. . .. 323 
 Blackberry, see "Orange rust." 
 
 Black walnut (Juglans nigra) 218 
 
 Botanical work affecting horticulture. 81 
 Box elder, or ash leaved maple (Neg- 
 
 nndo aceroides') 219 
 
 Brown's Sons, James N 426 
 
 Brown's Swiss cows 18 
 
 Bur oak, over cup, or mossy cup 
 
 (Qttercus macro car pa) 234 
 
 Burrill, T. J 81, 244, 301 
 
 Butternut, or white walnut (Juglans 
 
 cinerea) 220 
 
 Butter production, see "Milk and but- 
 ter production." 
 
 Butter tests, see "Dairy experiments;" 
 "Dairy cows." 
 
 357 
 
 358 
 
 361 
 359 
 356 
 353 
 
 Carya alba 226 
 
 Gary a sulcata 226 
 
 Castanea vesca 224 
 
 Catalpa bignonioides 22 1 
 
 Catalpa hardy (Catalpa speciosa) 223 
 
 Catalpa speciosa 223 
 
 Catalpa tender (Catalpa bignonioides). . 221 
 
 Cattle feeding 426 
 
 Chestnut (Castanea vesca) 224 
 
 Chinch bug in Illinois, 1891-92. ...... 44 
 
 In southern Illinois, 1894 397 
 
 Clark, Thomas. 427 
 
 Clinton, G. P 295 
 
 Corn crossing 82, 179, 199, 359 
 
 Methods of 100 
 
 Corn, experiments.with 49, 173, 333 
 
 Continuous cropping with corn con- 
 trasted with rotation of crops. . . . 
 
 Corn fodder, effect of ripeness 
 
 Corn plant, rate of growth and 
 chemical composition of the, 
 
 68, 200, 
 
 Cross fertilization 199, 
 
 Depth of cultivation 66, 198, 
 
 Depth of planting 194, 
 
 Depth of plowing 65 
 
 Effect of fertilizers 68 
 
 Effect of removing tassels 69, 201 
 
 Effect of root-pruning 66, 198, 357 
 
 Frequency of cultivation 197, 355 
 
 Planting in hills or drills. ...65, 197, 355 
 
 Test of varieties 51, 176, 337 
 
 Thickness of planting 62, 194, 353 
 
 Time of planting 60, 191, 351 
 
 Corn seed, loss of dry matter in, by 
 
 sprouting 
 
 Cream, see "Acid test of." 
 
 Cream separation, etc., see "Dairy 
 
 experiments," "Dairy cows." 
 Cross fertilization and hybridizing 
 77, 82, 179, 199, 
 
 Dairy experiments 9, 17, 137, 245, 
 
 Composite milk samples tested for 
 
 butter fat 27 
 
 Cream raising by dilution 30 
 
 Cream separation, test of methods. . 28 
 
 Investigations of milk tests 22 
 
 Dairy cows, certified tests of 400 
 
 Dairy cows, tests of, at Illinois State 
 
 Fair 18 
 
 At American Dairy Show 18 
 
 380 
 
 359 
 389 
 
i8 94 .] 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 433 
 
 Devon cow, butter test of 18 
 
 Elm, American or white (Ulmus 
 
 Americana) 225 
 
 Farrington, E. H. 
 
 16, 32, 171, 248, 381, 394, 400 
 
 Feeders' , notes by 426 
 
 Feeding experiments, conclusions 
 
 from 427 
 
 Fertilizers applied to corn 68 
 
 Fertilizers applied to wheat (at the 
 
 Station) 6, 109 
 
 In southern Illinois 7, no 
 
 Forbes, S. A 48, 399 
 
 Forest tree plantation 205 
 
 Cultivation trimming and thinning. 209 
 
 Methods of planting 208 
 
 Varieties of trees in 208 
 
 Histories of 
 
 Ailanthus, or tree of heaven 
 
 (Ailanthus glandulosus) 215 
 
 Apple (Pyrus malus) 216 
 
 Ash, green (Fraxinus viridis).. . 216 
 Basswood ( Tilia Americana}.., 232 
 Black walnut (Juglans nigra).. . 218 
 Box elder or ash leaved maple 
 
 (Negundo acer aides) 219 
 
 Bur oak, over cup, or mossy cup 
 
 (Quercus macrocarpa) 234 
 
 Butternut or white walnut 
 
 (Juglans cinerea) 220 
 
 Catalpa, hardy (Catalpa speciosa) 223 
 Catalpa, tender (Catalpa bignon- 
 
 ioides) 221 
 
 Chestnut (Castanea vesca) 224 
 
 Elm, American or white (Ulmus 
 
 Americana) 225 
 
 Hickory, shell-bark or shag- 
 bark (Gary a alba) . . . . 226 
 
 Hickory, big shell-bark or king 
 
 nut (Carya sulcata) 226 
 
 Honey locust, or three-thorned 
 accacia (Gleditschia triacan- 
 
 thos) 227 
 
 Larch, European (Larix Euro- 
 
 paed) 227 
 
 Maple, sugar, rock, or hard 
 
 (Acer saccharinum) 232 
 
 Maple, white, silver, or soft 
 
 (Acer dasycarpum) 233 
 
 Norway spruce (Abies excelsa). . 241 
 Osage orange (Madura auran- 
 
 *"a) 235 
 
 Pine, Austrian (Finns Austri- 
 
 aca) 236 
 
 Pine, Scotch (Pinus sylvestris). . 237 
 
 Pine, white (Pinus strobus) 238 
 
 Red cedar (Jtmiperus Virgin- 
 tana) 224 
 
 White willow (Salix alba) 242 
 
 Fraxinus viridis 216 
 
 Fungicides 80 
 
 Gardner, F. D..44, 71, 120, 136, 203, 360, 388 
 
 Gleditschia triacanthos , 227 
 
 Grafting, see "Root grafting." 
 
 Grape, a disease of 268 
 
 Methods of cultivation 79 
 
 Of training 270 
 
 Tests of varieties 74, 249 
 
 Varieties described 
 
 Agawan 257 
 
 Albert 258 
 
 A Iphonse 262 
 
 Amber queen 258 
 
 Aminia 252 
 
 August giant 252 
 
 Bacchus 252 
 
 Barbara 262 
 
 Barry 252 
 
 Beagle 258 
 
 Beauty 258 
 
 Bell 263 
 
 Brighton 258 
 
 Brilliant 259 
 
 Cambridge 253 
 
 Campbell 263 
 
 Centennial 263 
 
 Challenge 259 
 
 Champion 253 
 
 Concord 253 
 
 Conqueror 253 
 
 Cottage 253 
 
 Cynthia 253 
 
 Delaware 259 
 
 Diana 259 
 
 Dinkel 259 
 
 Dracut amber 259 
 
 Duchess 263 
 
 Early market 253 
 
 Early victor 254 
 
 Eaton 254 
 
 Eldorado 263 
 
 Elvira 263 
 
 Empire State 263 
 
 Essex ^ 254 
 
 Etta % 263 
 
 Eumelan > 254 
 
 Faith 263 
 
 F. B. Hayes 264 
 
 Gaertner 254 
 
 Goethe 260 
 
 Gold coin 264 
 
 Golden gem 264 
 
 Green Mountain 264 
 
 Grein's golden 264 
 
 Hartford 254 
 
 Herbert 260 
 
 Huber's No. 12 255 
 
 lona 260 
 
 Iron clad 254 
 
 Isabella 255 
 
 Ives seedling 255 
 
 A. Warder 257 
 
 efferson 260 
 
 essica 264 
 
 ewel 255 
 
 ^ady 264 
 
 Lady Washington 265 
 
 Lindley 260 
 
434 
 
 BULLETIN NO. 36. 
 
 [August, 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Lyon 260 
 
 Marion 255 
 
 Martha 265 
 
 Mason' s seedling 265 
 
 Massasoit 260 
 
 Mills 255 
 
 Missouri Reisling 265 
 
 Montefiore 256 
 
 Moore's diamond 265 
 
 Moore's early 256 
 
 Moyer 261 
 
 New Haven 256 
 
 Niagara 265 
 
 Noah 265 
 
 Norfolk 261 
 
 Norton's Virginia 256 
 
 Norwood 256 
 
 Oneida 261 
 
 Oriental 256 
 
 Pearl 266 
 
 Peter Wylie > 263 
 
 Perkins 261 
 
 Pocklington 266 
 
 Postoak grape 257 
 
 Prentiss 266 
 
 Rochester 261 
 
 Ruby 261 
 
 Salem 261 
 
 Transparent 266 
 
 Triumph 266 
 
 Uhland 266 
 
 Ulster prolific 262 
 
 Vergennes 262 
 
 Victoria 257 
 
 White Hall 257 
 
 Wilder 257 
 
 Winchell 266 
 
 Woodruff red 262 
 
 Wyoming red 262 
 
 Henderson, J. P. 
 
 Hickory, big shell-bark or king nut 
 
 ( Gary a sulcata) 226 
 
 Hickory, shell-bark or shag-bark 
 
 (Carya alba} 226 
 
 Hog feeding 
 
 Holstein-Friesian cows, butter test of. 18 
 Honey locust, or three-thorned accacia 
 
 (Gleditschia triacanthos] 227 
 
 Horticulture, a general report 73 
 
 Hybridizing, see "Cross fertilizing." 
 
 Jersey cows, butter test of 18 
 
 Juglans drier a 220 
 
 Jziglans nigra 218 
 
 Juniperus Virginiana 224 
 
 Larch, European (Larix Europaea). . . 227 
 
 Larix Europaea 227 
 
 Lash, F. 427 
 
 Late season and the corn crop, 1892. . 103 
 Lye, concentrated, used in tests of 
 
 composite samples of milk 27 
 
 McCluer, G. W 
 
 81, 101,102,244,270,272, 331 
 
 Madura aurantica 235 
 
 Maple, sugar, rock, or hard (Acer 
 
 saccharinum) 232 
 
 Maple, white, silver, or soft (Acer 
 
 dasycarputn) 233 
 
 Meteorological records 418 
 
 Milk and butter production, daily vari- 
 ation 9 
 
 Milk tests, investigations of 22 
 
 Milk tests, see "Dairy experiments;" 
 "Dairy cows." 
 
 Milk, variations in 137 
 
 Effect upon of changes in feed of 
 
 cows 161 
 
 Morrow, G E 
 
 9, 44, 71, 103 120, 136, 203, 360, 
 
 388, 400, 411, 417, 419, 431 
 
 Native fruits, improvement of 78 
 
 Negundo acer aides .. . 219 
 
 New factor in economic agriculture. . 301 
 
 Nitrogen, free, utilized by plants 301 
 
 Norway Spruce (Abies excelsa] 241 
 
 Oats, experiments with. ..33, 121, 382, 412 
 
 Compact or loose seed bed 124 
 
 Depth of sowing 35, 127, 386 
 
 Effect of time and manner of har- 
 vesting on yield and chemical 
 
 composition 134, 386 
 
 Quantity of seed per acre, . .35, 123, 383 
 
 Testing varieties 36, 128 
 
 Time of sowing 125, 383 
 
 Orange rust of raspberry and black- 
 berry 273 
 
 Osage orange (Madura aurantica] 235 
 
 Peach tree, winter protection of 76 
 
 Perry, James A. 426 
 
 Pine, Austrian (Pinus Austriaca} 236 
 
 Pine, Scotch (Pinus syhestris) 237 
 
 Pine, white (Pinus strobus) 238 
 
 Pinus Attstriaca 239 
 
 Pinus strobtts 238 
 
 Pinus sylvestris 237 
 
 Protection of the trunks of trees 76 
 
 Pumpkins and squashes, varieties. ... 75 
 
 Pyrus mains 216 
 
 Quercus macrocarpa 234 
 
 Raspberry, methods of cultivation. 79, 329 
 
 Varieties 74, 325 
 
 American black 326 
 
 Brandywine 327 
 
 Carman 326 
 
 Caroline 327 
 
 Clarke 327 
 
 Crimson beauty 327 
 
 Conrath's early 326 
 
 Cuthbert 327 
 
 Early pride 328 
 
 Golden queen 328 
 
 Gregg 326 
 
 Hansell 328 
 
 Herstine 328 
 
 Hilborn 326 
 
 Hornet 328 
 
 Hudson River Antwerp 328 
 
1894.] 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 435 
 
 Johnson's sweet. 326 
 
 Kansas 327 
 
 Lovett 327 
 
 Mammoth cluster 327 
 
 Marlboro 328 
 
 Muskingum 328 
 
 Nemaha 3 2 6 
 
 Palmer, acme Palmer 327 
 
 Philadelphia 328 
 
 Progress 327 
 
 Rancocos 328 
 
 Reliance 328 
 
 Shaffer's 328 
 
 Springfield 327 
 
 Stayman's No. 5 329 
 
 Turner 329 
 
 Raspberry, see "Orange rust." 
 
 Red cedar (Junipenis Virginiana] 224 
 
 Rhizobium 302 
 
 Root grafting, whole and piece 80 
 
 Russian thistle in Illinois 421 
 
 Salix alba 242 
 
 Schneider, Albert 315 
 
 Sheep feeding 425 
 
 Shorthorn cows, butter, tests of 18 
 
 Southern Illinois, wheat experiments 
 
 in 7, IIO 
 
 Squashes, see "Pumpkins and 
 
 squashes. 
 Stock feeders, practice of in Illinois. . 426 
 
 Stock feeding in Illinois 425 
 
 Sweet corn, thickness of planting, 1891, 101 
 
 Symbiosis 301 
 
 Test bottles, marking 26 
 
 Thistle, Russian, see "Russian thistle." 
 
 Thornburg, Thomas N 427 
 
 Tilia Americana 232 
 
 Ulmus Americana 225 
 
 Wheat, experiments with i, 105, 401 
 
 Effect of fertilizers, at Station 6, 109 
 
 In southern Illinois 7, no 
 
 Effect of time and manner of har- 
 vesting on yield 119 
 
 Depth of sowing 6, 109 
 
 Quantity of seed 2, 107, 411 
 
 Test of varieties 9, 112, 402 
 
 Time of sowing 4, 108 
 
 White willow (Salix alba) 242 
 
 Whitsitt, Benjamin 
 
 Winter protection of peach trees, 
 see "Peach trees." 
 
 
 All communications intended for the Station should be addressed, 
 not to any person , but to the 
 
 AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION, URBANA, ILLINOIS. 
 
 The bulletins of the Experiment Station will be sent free of all 
 charges to persons engaged in farming who may request that they 
 be sent. 
 
BULLETIN NO. 36. \AugUSt ', 1894, 
 
 ORGANIZATION. 
 
 BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS. 
 
 NELSON W. GRAHAM, Carbondale, President. 
 JOHN P. ALTGELD, Springfield, Governor of Illinois. 
 DAVID GORE, Springfield, President State Board of Agriculture. 
 HENRY RAAB, Springfield, Superintendent Public Instruction. 
 FRANCIS M. McKAY, Chicago. ALEXANDER McLEAN, Macomb. 
 
 SAMUEL A. BULLARD, Springfield. RICHARD P. MORGAN, Dwight. 
 
 JOHN H. BRYANT, Princeton. NAPOLEON B. MORRISON, Odin. 
 
 JAMES E. ARMSTRONG, Chicago. ISAAC S. RAYMOND, Sidney. 
 
 ANDREW S. DRAPER, LL.D., President of the University. 
 
 BOARD OF DIRECTION OF THE EXPERIMENT STATION. 
 
 *GEORGE E. MORROW, A.M., Champaign, Professor of Agriculture, President. 
 E. E. CHESTER, Champaign, of State Board of Agriculture. 
 
 E. A. RIEHL, Alton, of State Horticultural Society. 
 H. B. GURLER, DeKalb, of State Dairymen's Association. 
 
 N. B. MORRISON, Odin, Trustee of the University. 
 ISAAC S. RAYMOND, Sidney, Trustee of the University. 
 
 *THOMAS J. BURRILL, PH.D., Urbana, Professor of Botany and Horticulture. 
 STEPHEN A. FORBES, PH.D., Urbana, Professor of Zoology. 
 
 THE STATION STAFF. 
 
 *GEORGE E. MORROW, A.M., Agriculturist, President of Board of Direction. 
 
 WILLIAM L. PILLSBURY, A.M., Urbana, Secretary. 
 
 THOMAS J. BURRILL, PH.D., Horticulturist and Botanist. 
 
 STEPHEN A. FORBES, PH.D., Consulting Entomologist. 
 
 DONALD McINTOSH, V.S., Consulting Veterinarian. 
 GEORGE W. McCLUER, M.S., Assistant Horticulturist. 
 
 GEORGE P. CLINTON, M.S., Assistant Botanist. 
 
 FRANK D. GARDNER, B.S., Assistant Agriculturist. 
 
 WILL A. POWERS, B.S., Assistant Chemist. 
 
 *Professor Morrow has resigned both the presidency of the Board of Direction and his position 
 as agriculturist of the Station. Professor Burrill succeeds him as President of the Board of 
 Direction after September ist. 
 
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-URBANA 
 
 Q.630 7IL6B C002 
 
 BULLETIN. URBANA 
 17-36 1891-94 
 
 30112019529053