176 w ALL'S MANUAL 



first, of having the whole completely eaten up with- 

 out waste ; and, secondly, more perfectly masticated 

 and digested. A similar advantage arises from 

 cutting beets, turnips, carrots, pumpkins, etc., and 

 mixing them with meal. 



In localities remote from the sea shore, where 

 vegetation affords too little of the salts of soda to 

 supply the demands of the animal fluids, common 

 salt should be mixed with the food, or else a supply 

 kept in a sheltered place, so that stock may get it 

 when they want it. From four to five quarts 

 sprinkled on a ton of hay or fodder, when stored 

 away, will greatly improve its quality and aid in its 

 preservation. A small quantity of salt is beneficial 

 to hogs, if given regularly, but large doses are very 

 poisonous. 



Boiling and steaming render substances more 

 soluble, and in that way promote digestion. Steam- 

 ing may be profitably applied to hay when fed to 

 young animals, and to sheep, whether old or young. 

 Green grass is more valuable than hay made from it. 

 In making hay there arc changes produced in the 

 stalk and blades, partly physical and partly chemical. 

 Among these changes is the greater insolubility of 

 the fibre. This makes it indigestible. Steaming 

 reduces it back to a condition somewhat similar to 

 that of green grass. 



Boiling may be applied to grain, either whole or 

 ground. It renders the starch more soluble ; and, if 

 in the case of meal, a slight fermentation is produced 

 before boiling, a large portion of the starch will be 

 changed to dextrine. This is one of the stops in the 



