336 



BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



high cultivation. Here follow the quantities of digestible material 

 per acre : 



The chief difference in the digestible material furnished by the 

 two kinds of ha}' is that the clover supplies over twice as much di- 

 gestible protein as the Timothy. The comparison of these haj's is 

 discussed in detail and at some length, because from Timothy and 

 clover comes the bulk of the hay raised and consumed in Maine, and 

 a clear understanding of the relative value of these fodders is im- 

 portant. 



Oat straw. The digestibility of the organic matter of the oat 

 straw seems to have been but little less than was the case with the 

 hays. The conditions of the trials were not favorable to the most 

 accurate results, especiall}' for protein and fat.* 



(c) FEEDIXG EXPERDEENTS. 



The most important question connected with the practice of cattle 

 feeding, and one which for some years has received a great deal of 

 attention from investigators and practical men, broadl}^ stated, is 

 this : 



Is it possible to cheapen the cost of meal and milk by so mixing 

 a variety of cattle loods in the ration as to secure certain definite 



*The digestibility ol the potatoes and the eflect of feeding them with coarse fodder upon the 

 digestibility of the coarse fodder might properly be discussed here, only that this can be more 

 clearly and conveniently done after the an-angement of certain analytical data given later un- 

 der the head of experimental methods. 



