3^ AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



half as much as one containing 42 per cent, as might appear upon 

 the face, the reason being that the 21 per cent meal has a very 

 high per cent of crude fiber that must be passed through the 

 alimentary tract and calls for a considerable expenditure, of 

 energy in thus handling it. So that the reserve gotten from the 

 low grade goods is correspondingly small. Here the general 

 statement might be made, as has appeared by investigations we 

 have made at various points in the State, that high grade goods 

 always furnish the nutrients at less cost than low grade goods. 



As to the specific directions for feeding cows, this is to be 

 said: Xo two cows require exactly the same amounts of feed. 

 The amounts should vary with the amount of milk the cow is 

 giving, and for each individual cow should be determined by 

 the amount for w^hich she will pay. That is, each cow should be 

 fed up to the limit for which she will give an increased flow of 

 milk. I avoid saying that just so many quarts of oats or wheat 

 feed or cottonseed meal should be given, because not all dairy- 

 men will have any single feed that might be mentioned, and as 

 we have tried to show, it is not necessary that any particular 

 kinds of feed be used ; the important thing being that sufficient, 

 and the right proportions, of the nutritive elements be supplied, 

 each feeder providing them in the form that is most convenient 

 and economical. 



The entire discussion thus far has been in search of a feed rich 

 in protein to supplement feeds rich in carbohydrates. There is 

 a single instance in our feeding operations where the reverse 

 must be done. That is in the feeding of skimmed milk to pigs 

 or calves. The fat has been removed and the nutritive elements 

 that remain are very largely proteins, giving skimmed milk a 

 very narrow nutritive ratio. Hence the proper supplementary 

 feed for it is one rich in carbohydrates and fat. This we find in 

 com ; hence the practice upon my own farm of feeding shelled 

 corn to pigs and calves in connection with skimmed milk. Prof. 

 Henry found best results Avere obtained by feeding one pound 

 of corn with not to exceed five pounds of milk, for young pigs. 

 With calves eating some hay the proportion of milk may be 

 slightly greater than this. We have not found it any advantage 

 to grind the corn for either pigs or calves. Thev digest it com- 

 pletely. There is a real advantage in feeding it dr\- and in 



