CUTTING AND COOKING FOOD. 359 



"I feed with the steamed mixture morning and evening, and 

 with good dry hay at noon. When feeding time arrives, the 

 door at the lower side of the vat is opened, and a sufficient quan- 

 tity withdrawn into a box, and the door closed at once ; it is 

 then carried to the cattle in a basket, giving to each about a 

 bushel, less or more, according to size and condition. By the 

 time it reaches the cattle it will be quite warm, but not hot. 



"Last winter I steamed but twice a week, finding no unfavor- 

 able effect from keeping the feed so long. This was done to save 

 labor and fuel. Three times a week is better. 



"My stock for several years has consisted of about fifty head 

 of thorough bred Ayrshire cattle, and five horses. 



"Since writing the above, I have seen the article by Mr. Stew- 

 art, of North Evans, N. Y., and fully endorse all that he says in 

 regard to the economy of this method of feeding, and as to the 

 condition of the cattle thus fed, I consider the saving even more 

 than he names." 



"We close this prolonged dissertation, by giving the following 

 sensible remarks from a late number of "The Country Gentle- 

 man," which, although not strictly applicable to cooking food, are 

 important as showing the necessity of fully feeding the cow for 

 milk purposes : 



"A certain amount of food is necessary for the mere mainte- 

 nance of the cow. Suppose this is 15 pounds of hay a day, or 

 its equivalent in straw. On this diet, the cow gives no milk, 

 and does not increase in fat or flesh. The food is all expended 

 in keeping her alive. Now, if we give 20 pounds of hay a day, 

 we may get one-fourth of a pound of butter per day; if 25 

 pounds, one-half pound of butter per day; if 30 pounds, three- 

 fourths pound of butter per day, and with 35 pounds, one pound 

 of butter per day. If the cow could eat and digest, and turn into 

 butter, 40 pounds per day, we should get one and one-quarter 

 pounds per day. In other words, 15 pounds of hay per day 

 gives us nothing; 20 pounds gives us one-quarter pound of but- 



