18 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



It will be perceived that from the first to the sixth weighing — 

 i. e., from Nov. 30 to March 3, a period of ninety-two days, the 

 forage feed continuing about the same, the grain feed being suc- 

 cessively increased, while the mean temperature, (three observa- 

 tions each day,) fell from 31.3 to 17.07, and continued low for 

 sixty days, there was a continual diminution in the gain of the 

 stock, until, on the third of March, it became a positive loss. 

 Then again the mean temperature rose to about 31 degrees, and 

 for the next two weighings, a period of twenty-four days, carrying 

 it to the 29th of March, there was a very fair gain. 



After which time, the dropping and suckling of calves, the in- 

 creased flow of milk and other irregularities, gave an irregular 

 result, mostly a loss, although the temperature of April and May 

 was favorable. Exact experiments can only be made under the 

 personal care of an intelligent experimenter. Every circumstance 

 and condition must be carefully noted and recorded. Too much 

 reliance should not, therefore, be placed upon the foregoing obser- 

 vations, the feeding and care of the stock being all the while in 

 the hands of another person. The results observed regarding tem- 

 perature, however, accord so well with the generally received 

 opinion that it cannot but strengthen that opinion, and lead farm- 

 ers to provide warm shelter and an abundance of nutritious food 

 for stock in severe weather. Animals, it is true, will eat enough 

 food in very cold weather — they must do so or die, if this only is 

 oifered them ; but they will not, cannot gain, or yield a profit upon 

 such food. In the above trial, the stock was full-fed most largely 

 upon corn-stover and meadow hay. It consumed, in addition, 200 

 bushels meal, one ton cotton seed, one ton shorts, and 500 bushels 

 roots. With this food, and it is believed to have been more liberal 

 than is allowed upon most farms, the total gain from Nov. 30 to 

 May 15, was only 764 lbs. To this should be added the worth of 

 milk, labor of oxen and excrements ; yet with these additions, a 

 balance sheet would show very much to the disadvantage of suc- 

 cessful farming. 



Next to exposure and positive suffering by cold and lack of 

 food, irregular feeding, unkind treatment, and any other circum- 

 stances which create disquiet, are the causes of loss. No worry- 

 ing of dogs, or ill-usage by thoughtless boys or ill-tempered men, 

 should be allowed. Five minutes abuse v;hile driving to or from 

 the pasture, — while getting the animals to and confining them in 



