42 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



drop as fine-looking and healthy calves, assume the eating 

 of hay again without inconvenience, and, in fact, that it is 

 the best way to treat them. 



Too much cannot be said in regard to the regularity of 

 feeding. It is one-half the battle. Consider the condition 

 that we ourselves would be in, if we ate at any period of the 

 day that was convenient. Our cattle and horses are as much 

 creatures of habit as we are ; and trespassing upon that habit 

 will produce the same results as in ourselves. 



The old saying, that too many cooks spoil the broth ap- 

 plies to the stable as well as to the kitchen. The feeding 

 should always be done by one person, who will soon learn 

 what each animal will consume ; and none will be under or 

 over fed. Salt will be administered regularly ; they will not 

 be uneasy or expectant when others are around ; and, if any 

 thing is wrong with them, you know just where to place the 

 blame. Give your cattle good care, and they will amply 

 repay you. Feed regularly, and feed well. Let the breed be 

 what it may, this applies to all. The wealth of the New- 

 England farmer to-day lies in his stock and their products ; 

 and this wealth should be as zealously guarded and cared 

 for as any stock that is quoted on the exchange. 



The Chairman. The subject is now open for discussion. 



J. B. Hadwen (of Worcester). I fully agree with what 

 has been said by the essayist, as far as I am able to judge 

 from my own experience. Of course, he has told us many 

 things which we have no opportunity of proving by experi- 

 ence. He has given us a good deal of information in relation 

 to the internal organization of the animal ; and the points he 

 has made in regard to regularity of feeding, I think, have 

 great force. In feeding my own cattle, I consider regularity 

 of feeding of the first importance. I am a great believer 

 in nutritious food, feeding the best of ever}" thing which is 

 known to be good ; and it is only by uniform care in feeding, 

 and supplying a uniform qualit}'^ of food, that the best results 

 can be obtained. It is these conditions that the breeder has 

 to maintain, if he expects to improve his strain of cattle. It 

 makes no difference what the breed is : unless they are regu- 

 larly cared for, and kept under the same good conditions, 

 they will deteriorate. 



