1(30 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



animal half or two-thirds what it will eat, it will do just as well or 

 better than if you give all it will eat. I don't believe in stuffing 

 an animal's crib from morning to night; but my experience is, that 

 the best plan is to feed three times a day, regular'y, all they will 

 eat, right straight along ; that is the way I feed ; and if there is a 

 better way, I should like to know it. If I can keep three cows on 

 what two will eat, T should like to know how to do it. 



Mr. Doe. I would like to hear from Mr. Lawrence in regard to 

 feeding hay and meal. 



Mr. James A. Lawrence of Bucksport. I have been very much 

 gratified by what I have heard and learned at this session, and am 

 well repaid for coming 150 miles to attend, although I am seventy- 

 two years old and was not bred a farmer. Yet, for a few years 

 past I have taken quite an interest in the subject, and have exerted 

 what little influence I could to raise the standard of farming. 

 This year, in common with other farmers in Maine, I am very 

 short of hay, and am driven to my wit's ends to get my stock 

 through the Winter with the least possible expense, and bring 

 them out in good health and condition in Spring. I have adopted 

 this rule : I have a horse weighing about 1200 pounds, I give him 

 twelve pounds of hay and two quarts of scalded meal in the morn- 

 ing, a quart of oats at noon, and at night two quarts more of 

 scalded meal. So far, this allowance has kept my horse in good 

 condition, sleek, smooth and bright. My cows are half Durham 

 and half Aj^rshire. To my older animals, I give twelve pounds 

 of hay per -day, two quarts of scalded meal in the morning, and 

 two quarts of scalded meal at night; and my cows in milk never 

 have given more in winter than they do this winter. My younger 

 stock, three years old, two years old, yearlings and calves, I feed 

 about in that ratio. I have two or three full-blooded Ayrshire 

 calves, which will be a year old next Spring. I am giving them 

 five pounds of hay per day and one pint of oats, and they are sleek 

 and handsome. I wish you to understand that ni}' hay is good 

 hay ; there is no clover in it, nor any weeds. I didn't raise ten 

 pounds of clover on my farm the past season. The hay is chiefly 

 timothy and red top, and was cut before it came into the second 

 blossom (if there is any such thing) and cured in the best possible 

 manner, bright, handsome and aromatic. I had not a drop of rain 

 on a single load of hay put into my barn this year. I ought to 

 add that my barn is warm and comfortable, the frost rarely or 

 never entering it. 



