FAKMEES' INSTITUTES. 159 



New York Timos^ claimed to have been based on actual experiment, which said 

 that nine bushels of ruta-bagas were equivalent to one of corn. 



Mr. Hendryx. — I don't think that test was made with the yellow Swedish 

 turnip. 



Mr. Morton. — I would inquire whether Mr. Hayden makes that statement as 

 the result of a scientific investigation? 



Mr. Hayden. — Tlie tenor of the paper was to show by careful analysis the real 

 value of these two articles of food. 



Dr. Kedzie. — I don't consider that a mere analysis will determine the ques- 

 tion of value. A large proportion of one kind of food may pass through an 

 animal's stomach undigested, while another kind of food may be easy of digest- 

 ion, and the animal receive the whole benefit of the food. The experiments of 

 one practical agriculturist in this matter of feediug is worth more than the 

 experiments of all the chemists in the country. 



Mr. Lyle. — I know that you can go into the New York market and you will 

 see droves of cattle from Canada which they claim are fatted on ruta-bagas ; 

 and I know no finer stock ever find their way to that mai'ket. 



W. G. Beckwith. — I have never had very much experience in raising and 

 feeding ruta-bagas, but, so far as my knowledge and experience goes, I think it 

 a very expensive way for me to water my stock. I claim that in this country 

 we can raise hay and corn cheaper than we can roots. If I was going to raise 

 any root crop, I would raise "petaters." 



[ A voice. — Oh, my ! ] 



Mr. Beckwith. — Mr. Lyle says that in Canada they raise their stock on ruta- 

 bagas, which may be undoubtedly true, but they have extensive clover fields, 

 and also raise a great deal of hay and corn. I claim that in Canada they can 

 raise turnips a great deal better than we can ; for there is hardly ever any year 

 but w^hat they are sure of a crop, while here tliere are many failures. There is 

 another great mistake about feeding cattle : The same gentleman says they get 

 feverish if you feed corn steadily. Tlie simple reason is that they feed too 

 much grain and not enough hav. One of the best feeders in Michigan told me 

 the amount of grain he had fed his stock during the past 20 or 30 years, and I 

 could hardly believe him until I saw the experiment tried. There is not one 

 man in twenty but what feeds his horses double the amount of grain they require 

 for their own good. Feed less grain, and more hay and straw. As far as 

 turnips are concerned, I believe it costs more to raise two acres than it does four 

 acres of corn. I don't believe they pay at all. As I said before, I believe 

 ''petaters" are cheaper than any other root crop. 



J. E. Hendryx. — I am pretty tenacious on this turnip business, and I will say 

 to the gentleman, if he will come to see me next fall I will show him as fine a 

 croj^ of turnips as he will wish to look at. I consider four or five bushels of 

 ruta-bagas equal to one of corn. 



Mr. Dodge. — I would like to ask Mr. Beckwith how much grain his friend 

 was in the habit of feeding? 



Mr. Beckwith. — He said he fed two quarts of meal at one time to his cattle, 

 three times a day. 



D. Woodman. — I have grown ruta-bagas for the past two or three years, and 

 I consider one bushel of corn ^vorth as much as nine bushels of turnips. I 

 would much rather raise hay and corn. 



Horatio Hendryx. — Have you ever made any practical tests in feeding? 



Mr. Woodman. — I never have. 



