l-i Bureau of Farmers' Institutes. 



culent feed, I should grow mangels ; they contain some sugar, while 

 the beet pulp has none, and when fed judiciously, in connection 

 with other foods, are an excellent succulent food. If we will be- 

 gin with a few, and increase moderately, a large quantity of man- 

 gels may be fed. I have fed as high as a half-bushel, twice a day, 

 to a cow. But, remember, if mangels or ensilage is fed, the ani- 

 mals must be kept indoors. It will not do to allow them to run 

 out in cold weather. 



A Farmer. — I fed mangels to three cows, but was obliged to 

 discontinue their use, as they were too loosening. 



Mr. Woodward. — I have never had any trouble in that way 

 when I fed enough coarse food with them. 



A Farmer. — I am feeding corn meal and shorts with my en- 

 silage. I am feeding it that way to get better digestion. 



Question. — "Will it pay to cut hay for the live-stock, then sprin- 

 kle the meal and shorts on the hav or ensilage ? 



Dr. Smead. — If the ensilage is very heavily eared, it would be 

 better to sell the surplus corn, and buy bran. As to the cutting 

 of hay, I should say that it does not add nutrition to cut it; but 

 there is an advantage in cutting and steaming hay, if it is overripe, 

 and then mixing the grain ration with it. If one has early cut, 

 well-cured hay, I doubt if it will pay to do it, especially when the 

 animal is in a good, healthy condition. 



Mr. Cook. — If I were at home and had charge of the herd, 

 I should, no doubt, mix the grain with the ensilage. But I do 

 not believe it makes a cent's worth of difference with the cow. 

 All experiments I have made or consulted go to prove that it does 

 not pay to cut the hay. With the horse it may pay. I experi- 

 mented with five cows, cut the hay, fed the grain before and after 

 the coarse food, watered before and after, and watched results. I 

 found that whenever I made a change, the cows invariably shrank 

 in milk. I am convinced that the best way is to follow a uniform 

 system of feeding — doing everything on time and doing it regu- 

 larly. Uniformity is what docs the business more than anything 

 else. 



Question. — Are apples a suitable food for milch cows ? 



"Air. Smith. — They may be, if fed judiciously. Do not feed 

 more than four quarts at a time, twice a day. 



Question. — Is timothy hay "fit" to feed a cow giving milk? 



Mr. Smith. — Not if you want to make a profit on her milk. 

 She cannot digest enough of it to keep up her milk flow. 



