Potatoes For Animals

A writer upon this subject has said that "potatoos in the raw state ought bever lo be given tö animáis, with the Exception of sheep and gecse." It is said "a goose will thrive bettcr, and the flesh will be more gratefully tlavored, upon raw potatocs, sliced, than upon ai)}' Other .oilicle; while sheep will k move speedny tlirive on raw potatoes than on turnips; bilt, and especially in the beginning, raw potatoes will scoiir cattle and horses, and not unfrcquently cause death, while thore is no dauger of either f rom boiled or steamcd potatoes." It may be true that they are excellent for geeso, and that they are excellent for sbeep is well known; of a!l animáis the slieep likes a change from dry to green food in the shape of roots; and that they should tlirive upon thera better than the turnip, for the reaeon that, according to tables, the potato contains a largor fat substance and flesh-producing element than the turnip. Thiis a fair product is 200 bushels, or 12,000 pounds of potatoes, froin an acre, which are estimated to conlain 2640 pound3 of material for the animal system, while the average 3'ield of rutabagas of 20,000 pounds contain only 1440 pounds; and a similar yield of turnips but 1400 pounds; so that relatively to eaeh other they stand as potatoes 2640, rutabagas, 1440, and the turnip 840, a little better than a third the relative feeding value. The chief advantage is obtained in feeding to mature animáis; if bony structure is to be formed, the turnip is fully equal to the potato. That an excess of potatoes fed to cattle and horses produce ill results cannot be doubted, if the diet was exelusively potatoes; but that a small quantity, fed with dry hay, produces injurious results, is unsupposable. The boiling or steaming which generally means an addition of more or less mild feed would be much moro satisfaetory. Tho same writer also says: "Pigs will not always eat, and never can be fattened upon raw potatoes, while, if they are boiled, next to boiled peas, perhaps, will bring them to the greatest weight they are capable of attaiüing, and to greater perfection than anything else that may be continuously used with safety, admitting that three to four weeks1 feeding upon corn, ouis or barley is necessary to make the pork flrm, and impart flavor." Tbis is direetly contrary to the experience of a suecessful pork raiser that always estimatsd the value of potatoes as four bushels to one of corn, and always fed them raw, for the reason that he "obtained more satUfactory rösults. The following incident is said to hare occurred at Cape Girardeau, Missouri. A character noted for frequenting bar rooms was sitting in his usual placo of resort, with severa] companions. about a eard-table. Suddenly his wifa entered the room beariog a covered dish, which she deposited on the table. with the remark, "Presuming; husband, that you wcre too busy to come home to dinner, I have brought yours," and departed. Tho husband invited his friends to share his meal, and removing the lid from the dish, found only a slip of paper on which was written, "I hope you will enjov yonv dir.iTtr. It is the same kind your fainiiy has at home." More money is speut in two roonths for politieal purposes on eaeh Presklential campaign than is actually collected for religious parposes in two years. - The Lord stands no show by the side of a Presidential candidate.