THE FARMER AT HOME. 103 



in which they are frequently seen given out for feed, upon the ground, 

 m large quantities, so that but a small fraction of them will be eaten, 

 and the major part entirely lost. If every farmer would pass them 

 through a good corn-stalk cutter, like the one we now have in use, it 

 would increase the value of them for feed and for manure, each year, 

 more than the cost of the instrument. By this means, every pound 

 of them not eaten, is in fine condition for the compost-heap, to be used 

 in the following spring. We have tried several of these cutters, and 

 now use that of Ruggles, Mason & Co., which we think decidedly 

 the best, although there are others we would use, if we could not ob- 

 tain this. Professor Mapes says he has some winters kept two or 

 three yoke of oxen on cut corn-stalks, prepared in the following man- 

 ner. They were cut by a machine similar to our own, and then put 



COB AND CORN CRUSHER. 



mto a hogshead. On the top three gallons of hot water, containing a 

 gill of salt, is poured, and then the cask is covered over with a blanket. 

 The steam arising from the hot water softens and swells the stalks to 

 their original size. When cold, a little ground feed is scattered upon 

 them, and thus fed to the cattle. He says that the oxen worked hard 

 all winter, each yoke bringing three loads per day, of more than a ton 

 each, from a distance of three miles, and in the spring they were as 

 well conditioned as in the fall. 



COTTAGE. A cottage is a small dwelling-house; or rather it 



