49 



FAKMEKS INSTITUTES. 



The nineteenth Farmers's Institute of the Society was held in the Town Hall 

 in Great Barrington, on Friday, February 20th, 1885, the attendance beginning 

 with about fifty persons, gradually increased to a hundred and fifty by lunch 

 time. President Heath called the meeting to order and announced the first sub- 

 ject for discussion. 4 • Feeding and Care of Stock. ' 



Alonzo Bradley of Lee, opeued the discussion, and gave a comparative value 

 of the various foods. He considers economy iu feeding to consist not so much 

 in the quantity, as in giving the proper proportion and kind of food. Cows give 

 two-fifths more cheese and two-tiftlis h -ss butter when left to the changes of the 

 elements than if kept under shelter. A heifer calf gets half her growth the first 

 year ; half the remainder the second, and attains full growth the fourth year. 

 The cost of feeding a fat steer exhibited at Chicago, last autumn, per pound of 

 gain was 2.92 cents the first year; 4.58 cents the second ; 7.44 cents the third ; 

 and 8. 77 for 4£ months on the fourth year. Only about 75 per cent, of unground 

 oats are digested. 



There is no other food than milk that can take its place for a young calf. 

 After a few weeks gradually other food can be given. Oil cake, fine wheat bran, 

 and a little of very tender hay, and for variety ground oats, can safely be given. 

 The lighter foods can be increased as the calf grows and in time the animal can 

 be given all he will eat. This system will produce large well developed calves. 

 Cotton seed meal is not a suitable food for young stock, calves particularly, 



Finely cured clover hay is twice as nutritious as timothy hay. Oat straw is 

 quite innutritious. Corn-cobs, about which much has been said as a food, are 

 not good food. Cattle can eat but twenty-four to thirty pounds of dry food to 

 get one pound of weight, and those foods that exceed this limit of ratio in their 

 nutriment are detrimental to the animals, as well as those foods that fall below a 

 true ratio. In one hundred pounds of oat straw there are but one and three 

 tenths of a pound of growth ; one hundred pounds of carrots supply but one 

 pound. The proper ratio is twelve pounds of heat material to one pound of 

 growth material in one hundred pounds of food. 



Mr. Bradley gave an elaborate exposition of scientific and correct feeding 

 for cattle that cannot be condensed into this report, it was so replete with figures 

 expressing various values of each of the different kinds of food, and the ratios 

 that exist among these values. 



In response to Z. Cande of Sheffield, Mr. Bradley said that clover should be 

 cut just before bloom to get the most nutriment, and then a second crop can be 

 cut. Late cut timothy loses one-half its worth compared with the hay cut early. 



Frank A. Palmer of Stockbridge took up the subject of the care of stock. 

 He advocated the feeding on the farm of the crops raised thereon, and selling 

 only the condensed products, such as milk, butter, cheese and beef. The leading 

 value of roots is their power to keep stock in a heathful tone. The successful 

 New England farmer cannot afford to sell his grain and the day is past when he 

 ean even afford to raise his grain. Never feed an inferior cow except to fatten 

 and dispose of her. Pigs weighing one hundred pounds pay better than much 

 heavier pigs to sell, taking account of the cost of the food and the ratio of 

 growth. Select the best stock, feed well and treat gently. 



Mr. Palmer's nicely written article was well received, and at its close, he was 



