THE BARRE SYSTEM OF FEEDING. 263 



saving of fodder ; others give cut feed with equal satisfaction ; 

 while still others claim that the common dried fodder properly 

 fed is the most economical when the cost of steaming or cutting 

 is taken into account. Whether the steaming of food is a saving 

 or not, we feel sure that it cannot come into general use on 

 account of the expense of getting and arranging the necessary 

 fixtures. The same in regard to expense is true in relation to 

 the cutting and mixing of feed for stock. Although but a few 

 fixtures are required, yet it takes much labor ; the labor we 

 employ is generally of so poor a quality and yet so expensive to 

 hire, that the less we needlessly employ, the more successful 

 will be our farm operations. I have formerly given cut feed to 

 considerable extent, and have concluded that it is considered a 

 saving because it is fed in less quantities and with more regular- 

 ity. Now, when a farmer is convinced that he can make a 

 saving without extra cost by adopting a different method from 

 the one he has generally followed, he is not very slow to try the 

 experiment. 



The course which I pursue in feeding I adopted twelve years 

 ago. It has been styled the " Barre system," and the credit of 

 originating it has been given to me. I liked the system so well, 

 and my stock did so much better than before, that I began to 

 tell my neighbors about it, and the per cent, of fodder which I 

 was confident I had saved. Some hardly believed me ; but as 

 hay was very high that season, they began to try it, and thus it 

 was adopted. I remember, about ten years ago, of taking a 

 long ride with one who was then, as he is now, a member of this 

 Board ; and as we drove slowly along through the mud, I told 

 him how I fed my cows. The system seemed to strike him 

 favorably, for he not only immediately adopted it himself, but 

 from that time, whenever and wherever he has spoken about 

 feeding stock, he has recommended this system which I then 

 related to him. 



The system of winter feeding, as we have practised it, is as 

 follows : The poorest quality of fodder that I wish to feed is 

 given first, at the beginning of each meal, and in the morning, 

 while the cows are eating this first foddering, I commence to 

 milk. By the time they have this two-thirds eaten, another 

 foddering is given them of a better quality ; and then the third, 

 which consists of the best hay which I intend to feed, is given 



