95 



produced and at a less expense of cultivation and harvesting of 

 common turnips, of ruta-baga and of mangel-wurtzel, than of 

 potatoes. But it is believed that more nutritive matter can be 

 obtained from one hundred bushels of potatoes, than from two 

 hundred of common turnips. Ruta-baga and mangel-wurtzel, 

 have undoubtedly a great superiority over the common white tur- 

 nip, but these are much inferior to the best and most farinaceous 

 potatoes. Hay is without question one of the best articles 

 which can be given to fattening animals ; but where an abund- 

 ance of meal or of esculent vegetables is given, the nature of 

 the long feed to be given them seems of much less importance. 

 Rye, wheat, or oat straw, in such case, is found to be given 

 with an almost equal advantage as the best hay. Many of the 

 best beasts iu England are fatted upon straw and turnips. In 

 England, it is considered as doing well, if an acre of turnips 

 will fatten an ox for market. An experienced farmer here 

 is of opinion, that one hundred bushels of potatoes with a 

 small amount of hay will fatten an ox. Another says, that he 

 allows twenty-five bushels of corn to fatten an ox, and but little 

 hay will be required. A very good farmer in Charlemont, 

 speaks very strongly in favor of potatoes for fattening cattle. 

 A cow fatted by him on potatoes, showed one hundred lbs. 

 of tallow. The experience of many farmers confirms this es- 

 timate of their value. Yet one of the best feeders in Deer- 

 field disapproves the use of them. I believe this, however, 

 to be more the effect of prejudice than of careful experience. 

 Oil meal has been used by some farmers and much approved ; 

 but it is not estimated as of equal value with Indian meal. 

 These are very loose statements, but I deemed them worth re- 

 cording in the hope that they may induce to more carefulness 

 of observation and some exact experiments. 



It is curious to compare the gain of fatting cattle with the 

 actual cost of keeping. Two pounds live weight per day in 

 an ox are considered a large gain. The largest gain mentioned 

 in this report is a little more than three pounds per day. At seven 

 dollars per hundred, this would be equal to twenty-seven cents. 



