48 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



theory. There was ten times as much rye raised forty years 

 ago as there is now, and rye has more ergot than any other 

 plant that we grow. So I don't believe in the ergot theory. 

 I know that cattle will abort where thev are fed hia^h ; I 

 know they will abort where they are fed low ; I know they 

 will abort in the pastures ; an<l I think we shall leave this 

 subject, knowing just about as much as we did when we 

 started. 



Mr. Hersey. When we get a cow that will give twenty 

 quarts of milk, we endeavor to breed from her. Now, when 

 a cow gives that quantity of milk, it is necessary that she 

 should be fed very high in order to maintain her condition. 

 In feeding her high, yoxx carry her out of the natural course, 

 and, in doing so, you are carrying her out of good health. 

 Now, then, will not poor health cause abortion ? I do not 

 say that it does, but by thus endeavoring to breed cows out 

 of their natural condition, do we not breed them into that 

 condition which is unhealthy ? 



The Chairman. If that theory were true, abortion ought 

 to be more frequent than it is, as we make milk very largely. 



Mr. Noble. After much trouble from abortion I con- 

 cluded 1 could help the herd by supplying some needed 

 material of their food, so I got ground bone and commenced 

 feeding a certain quantity to my cows. I found that salt was 

 a large element in milk, and I commenced feeding more salt 

 and some saltpetre. I commenced that three years ago. 

 My cows have saltpetre and salt regularly, and if I do not 

 feed them a little bone occasionally,, it is liecause I have 

 sowed it over my pastures or used it as a fertilizer. I know 

 nothing about the cause of abortion, but I can say that, un- 

 der my new system of feeding, I have had no trouble from 

 it. I feed a certain amount of salt regularly, with saltpetre 

 and phosphates, in such quantity and in such manner as I 

 think best adapted to the needs of my cows. I have also 

 fed for the last two years an abundance of ensilage. I have 

 not lost any.calves under that treatment, and I have come to 

 this conclusion, that among the many causes of abortion, 

 one of them is the failure to supply the physical system ol 

 the cow with the elements which are constantl}' being drawn 

 from her in milk. 



