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THE AMERICAN FARMER. 



substances in a raw state. Nevertheless, recent experiments prove the advantage that results 

 from boiling the -potatoes and grain, and partially altered farina, which are given to them 

 for food ; for a large proportion, when given whole, in the raw state, passes through the 

 intestine perfectly unaffected, as when swallowed. 



Pereira expresses the following opinion: To render starchy substances digestible, they 

 require to be cooked, in order to break or crack the grains; for of the different lamina of 

 which each grain consists, the outer ones are the most cohesive, and present the greatest re 

 sistance to the digestive power of the stomach, while the internal ones are least so.&quot; 



It cannot be denied that heat, or the cooking power, aids largely in reducing roots, 

 grains, and coarse fodder, such as hay, straw, etc., to a condition that renders them more 

 easily digested, and their nutritive properties taken up by the system more readily and eff ect- 



THE LION FEED CUTTER. 



ually; besides, if food is taken into the stomach warm, there is no loss of heat in the animal 

 economy in warming the mass. Many of the coarser articles of food can also be utilized 

 that would otherwise not be eaten by cattle, as by this means they may be mixed with other 

 food, and the whole be rendered palatable as well as digestible. 



Mr. E. W. Stewart, who has had much experience in feeding steamed food, describes 

 his process of steaming, etc., as follows: 



Preparing Food for Steaming. &quot;The feed is prepared for steaming thus: &quot;The 

 cut straw, hay and straw, roots, or other cut feed, sufficient to fill the steam box, is measured in a 

 square six-bushel basket. It is then moistened by a four-gallon watering pot, with twenty 

 gallons of water to fifty bushels of feed, while it is being stirred up w r ith a fork. Then two 

 quarts of wheat bran to the bushel of straw is mixed in the same manner, and a little salt 

 added, when it is put into the steam box and steamed for an hour and a half. This feed 

 will keep warm for two days in the coldest weather. 



