log FARMER'S ASSISTANT. 



ing, we should soon find the breed of Horses in our Cou- 

 try much improved. 



FODDER AND FODDERING. Much chaff and straw, 

 that is often thrown awuy, may with a little pains be made 

 good fodder for cattle, by being mixed with green corn- 

 stalks, or with hay not fully dried, and sprinkling a little 

 salt throughout the whole. In this way the moisture and 

 much of the sweetness of the stalks, or hay, is absorbed by 

 the straw and chaff, and, with the addition of the salt, the 

 whole mass is converted into good fodder. Cattle will also 

 eat straw or chuff very well, after having some brine 

 sprinkled over it. 



Salting all fresh hay, when put up, is a great addition tft 

 it, as it renders it more nourishing to cattle, and of course 

 will go further in keeping them. A respectable Farmer of 

 this county ( Herkimer) who keeps a large stock ot cattle, 

 says, he is certain, that adding eight quarts of salt to each 

 ton of hay will make it go as far, as a ton and a quarter that 

 has not been sahed. At the same time, hay may be put 

 Into the mow, when salted, in a much greener state than 

 without it; and when taken out will be found almost as 

 green and apparently as fresh as when first stowed away. 



Hay which is stored in narrow mows, or on scaffolds, will 

 keep well with less drying than that which is put into large 

 mows. To prevent hay from damaging in a large mow, 

 some recommend a barrel or a stuffed sack to be placed in 

 the centre, and gradually raised as the mow is raised z 

 This forms an opening in the middle, through which the 

 steam of the heated hay can pass off, and thereby prevent 

 it from being mow-burnt. Another method is, to put the 

 driest hay in the centre, and the wetest nearest the out- 

 sides 



See also, BARN. 



Meadows which produce wild grass ought to be mowed 

 very early, and the hay well salted down ; and in this way 

 cattle will eat it nearly as well as they will herdsgrass. 



Stacking of hay in meadows, to be fed out there, is a 

 poor plan ; as the meadows are in this way often much in- 

 jured by the treading of the cattle; and, when this is not the 

 case, much hay is generally wasted, and the dung of the 

 cattle turns to little or no account. The Farmer ought 

 always to have sufficient room in his barn, and hayhouses, 

 to hold all his hay ; or, if he has not this, he ought to 

 stack his hay adjoining his barn, and then it can be easily 

 thrown in at once, when his barn is emptied. 



Foddering should not be commenced till it is really ne- 

 cessary; for, when the cattle have been taught to expect it, 

 they will neglect their other feeding. Fodder at first in 



