238 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



and (in case of straw and grain against liay) so contrary 

 to what would be termed common sense, and (if true) of 

 sucli vital importance in the economy of the farm, that I 

 am led to say virtually, again, that for five years, in accurate 

 work each year, in every instance the proper meal with 

 straw, and in fact any meal v/ith straw, has done better than 

 the German work upon which Americans now rely would 

 allow. When I say German work, I mean the conclusions 

 they draw from actual trials. From such of their trials as 

 have come to my attention, I find occasionally the full 

 results given. When mostly straw and grain are fed against 

 a pure hay-ration, results are given that agree somewhat 

 with mine ; but they are either unnoticed or misinterpreted. 

 That the value of straw is much misunderstood, let us all 

 agree, or in your own interest put my faith and work to a 

 new trial. The causes of the value of these combinations, I 

 am now in farther trials seeking, but will only say that I am 

 tracing one that partly meets the difficulty of the facts. 



An application I would make of the foregoing facts is to 

 increase the area tilled. Massachusetts raises an average of 

 a ton of hay per acre. It will not weigh out a ton in spring. 

 A steer of a thousand pounds, consuming twenty-five pounds 

 daily, would winter eighty days from an acre of ground. 

 With rotation of crops in broad culture, the corn-crop 

 would soon be made sixty bushels per acre, and three tons 

 and a half stover. This stover would, by my results, keep a 

 steer two winters. Sell corn enough to procure the cotton- 

 seed meal to go with it, and thus introduce a manure food 

 worth four times as much as the corn, and leave corn 

 enough to fat two pigs weighing over two hundred and fifty 

 pounds each, live weight. This statement is based upon 

 three years' results of corn-fed pigs, and results from the use 

 of stover. That the old system of intensive culture, or 

 narrow areas well tilled, with hay prominent, has not been 

 satisfactory, none need be told. Chemicals and purchased 

 foods allow of broad culture, and open greater possibilities 

 to our farmers. Such a system is now pursued on our 

 College Farm with greater profit than I could obtain by 

 the old system. I invite your thoughtful criticism of the 

 change. 



