FEEDING DAIRY COWS. 93 



barn is tight and close, and we could keep it as warm as we 

 pleased. Last winter we fed half tlie grain we did the winter 

 before. Our cows came out in good condition, but not as good as 

 we thought they ought. This winter we have fed a little more 

 than half what they did last, and the cows are in splendid condi- 

 tion. The treatment in other respects was the same. Now, I 

 believe that the nourishment required to compensate for the poor 

 condition of the barn was so much, that when the cattle were put 

 into comfortable quarters, one-half of the concentrated food to 

 which they had been accustomed was too much for them, and one- 

 third or one-fourth of it keeps them in good condition now. One 

 point more I wish to bring out. A good deal of fault has been 

 found with the trustees of the college for expending so much 

 money on the barn. Now, in keeping thirty or thirty-five head of 

 stock, if we can save three or four quarts of feed a day for each 

 animal, are we not saving the interest on the cost of that barn ? 



Mr. Lyman II. Winslow, Member from Lincoln. I am not a 

 dairyman, though I keep a few cows. The reasoning of some of 

 the gentlemen reminds me of a little incident. A man bought 

 twenty gallons of cider of one of my neighbors. He put three 

 gallons of brandy, four pounds of sugar and three pounds of 

 raisins in it, and sent it to a friend of his. His friend put four 

 gallons of brandy, three pounds of sugar, and four pounds of 

 raisins in it, and sent back word to him that it was the best cider 

 he ever saw. Now, you can experiment in cheap food if you 

 want to, but if you want to get good milk and make good butter, 

 put in your brandy and sugar, and raisins. I don't believe in 

 giving a cow dry food altogether to digest; and I would raise 

 some roots to give my cows in winter. I would experiment a 

 little in the details of feeding, and then I wouldn't have to ask 

 anybody for advise. 



