FARMING FOR SUCCESS. 85 



matoly 14 lbs. ha}' a day to maintain an 800 lb. steer without gain 

 or loss. The steer in question will have an average weight of nearl}'' 

 800 ll)s. for the period of his growth. If matured in four and one- 

 half instead of two and one-half years he will have eaten mainten- 

 ance fodder (14 lbs. daily) for two winters more than is required, 

 or for 330 days, or 4G20 lbs. of hay worth, at Sl2 per ton, S27.72, 

 and two summerings, worth $d more, or total of $3G.20. Yet I am 

 told bj' farmers that it pays best to feed heavy steers and shotes, 

 over pigs. No mistake is more fatal in feeding ; and no wonder 

 that such men, who are often in the majority, complain that farming 

 don't pa}'. Then the position taken is, that if cheap manure is to 

 be obtained, well bred animals, quickly matured upon home grown 

 and upon purchased foods rich in the elements of plant nutrition, 

 fed in rations in accordance with principles of recent investigation, 

 must be fed. 



Cost of Animal Products. 



Can the manure of cattle, sheep and pigs, be got for attendance? 

 If so, the whole question of profitable farming for New England is 

 answered, for an unlimited supply of manure is at our command by 

 purchase of foods and feediug. I have weighed constantly' for four 

 winters the food to animals of diflTerent ages in a herd of fifty head, 

 and have given all of the foods, coarse and concentrated, commonly 

 fed in New England. The same has been done in summers with 

 pigs. And a few experiments made with sheep. Basing m}' opinion 

 upon those results and those of careful men that I have met, I be- 

 lieve it can be done. Ver}- man}- are putting calves upon the market 

 in weights varying from 400 to 800 lbs., at good compensation. 

 F. F. Fisk of Webster, N. H., sold a calf weighing 1200 lbs. at 

 364 days old, and dressing 902 lbs. He says it was done at a sat- 

 isfactor}' cost on skim milk, bran and green fodders in summer and 

 hay in winter. A fair statement and results of nursing calves to 

 pasture ma}' be made from four calves turned to pasture by G. W. 

 Sanborn, Gilmautou, N. H., for 1880. I name this gentleman 

 because he is a free user of scales, and I am personally familiar with 

 his methods of feediug and with his stock. The four young mothers 

 averaged in round numbers 700 lbs. each, and were fed entirely on 

 corn fodder, oat straw, swale hay, and 3 lbs. each of mixed cob 

 meal and cotton seed meal daily. They ate not over two per cent, 

 of live weight daily, or 14 lbs. at $6 per ton, and 480 lbs. mixed 



