500 ^'^'^ Forage Crops, [November, 



even corn-fodder can be so rapidly cut that it becomes but a trifling 

 "chore" to prepare the provender for the manger and the feed-box. 

 When thus cut and made wet the addition of wheat -bran, shorts, chop- 

 ped rye, or oil-cake, makes a most "savory dish " for either steed or 

 cow. Thus prepared, the animal consumes with great relish what is 

 set before him without rejecting the coarser parts and without the 

 least waste of any portion. By this process much of what would 

 otherwise be heedlessly flung into the manure yard as refuse and 

 worthless is converted into most healthful and acceptable forage, to 

 the manifest saving of much other feed of greater market value. 



Some may conclude that this is all moonshine, because in the 

 coarse provender, thus put through the cutting-box, there is found 

 but an inconsiderable proportion of nutritive matter. As to this, 

 it is proper to remark, first, that whatever elements of nutri- 

 tion may be contained therein is at all events a clear gain : and, 

 second, that to all persons of any intelligence on these points it is 

 well known that, with their food, all domestic animals desire, and 

 indeed their proper health and digestion demand, something in addi- 

 tion to the mere elements of nutrition. To confine animals, or even 

 man, to the simple concentrated elements of nutrition alone, would 

 be tantamount to condemning them to ultimate starvation; for, ani- 

 mal physiology informs us that herbiverous animals require much 

 that serves only the purpose of supplying ihe stimulus of distention 'j 

 and the material supplying this need have — indeed sJioidd have — 

 but a small proportion of nutrient matter. Its benefit results from 

 the capacity of producing merely a mechanical distention of the or- 

 gans of digestion, in order that the gastric fluids may proceed, un- 

 impeded by pressure of digestive matter, in the work of digestion ; 

 and by having the digestive matter thnf« divided through a larger 

 mass, it is made more accessible to the action of the gastric fluids, 

 than if permitted to remain compact and undivided. Hence, even 

 if it contains no nutrition, this coarser forage thus palatably pre- 

 pared by the cutting-box, nevertheless serves a most important func- 

 tion in the animal economy, by producing this mechanical distention, 

 so important to an easy and healthful digestion of food. Cows fed 

 thus, will yield milk more abundantly than when confined to dry 

 and concentrated food, for the reason that the healthful digestion 

 keeps their system free from all feverish tendency, and the slightest 

 fever, as all know, is inimical to the secretion of milk. Horses thus 

 managed will keep in better 'condition,' i. e., in better general health; 



