56 



The stall-feeding of cattle is carried on to a large extent in 

 the river-towns, and to some extent in the hill-towns. In the 

 hill-towns they are usually fattc^d upon potatoes ; in which 

 case it is not uncommon to tie them in the barn and allow 

 them a bushel of well-washed potatoes per day, given at two 

 or more different times, with as much hay as they will con- 

 sume, and allowing them no water. It is thought by many 

 farmers that a yoke of oxen put up in good condition may be 

 well fatted or finished off for the market with what hay they 

 will consume and one hundred bushels of potatoes ; and that 

 the advance obtained on such cattle is in general a fair com- 

 pensation for the potatoes given them and the hay required, 

 which will not be large in quantity. Cattle fed upon potatoes 

 will, it is said, in general prove as well, that is, have as much 

 tallow, as those fed in any way, and the beef of such cattle is 

 thought by many to have a peculiar juiciness or sweetness. 

 In driving to market, however, the cattle fed upon potatoes 

 will fall away more than those fed upon hay and corn ; and 

 when they come into market by no means appear as well. 

 Several farmers are in the practice of boiling or steaming the 

 potatoes which they give to their cattle, and profess to find a 

 great advantage in it. The experiments which have come 

 within my own knowledge have not yet satisfied me that the 

 advantages are a compensation for the labor and expense 

 incurred by such operation. 



The articles usually employed in fattening cattle are hay 

 and Indian meal, or corn and rye meal mixed, or pease and 

 oats, iDr oats and corn ground together. Besides this, many 

 farmers are in the practice of giving their stall-fed cattle occa- 

 sionally certain quantities of potatoes. An excellent farmer, 

 of fifty years experience in the fatting of cattle, is of opinion 

 that potatoes are good feed for fatting cattle in the fall and 

 spring, v/hen the weather is warm ; but that they do no good 

 in cold weather unless they are cooked. I rely much upon 

 his judgment and experience. The value of potatoes is differ- 

 ently estimated by different individuals ; some considering five 



