96 



To make this, we suppose the animal to receive one peck of 

 Indian meal, which, at 66| cents per bushel, would be 16| cents, 

 and 28 lbs. of hay, which, at 8 dollars per 2000 lbs., would be 

 11 cents and 2 mills, or both about 28 cents. Or suppose him 

 to gain only 2 lbs. per day, which would be 14 cents ; and his 

 daily allowance of meal be reduced to 4 quarts, and hay the 

 same as before, the daily cost of keeping would be about 20 

 cents ; in which case, if we place the manure as an offset for 

 the attendance, interest and commissions on sale, &c., there 

 will be a loss of about six cents per day. I believe the result 

 is often much worse than this ; and it is much to be regretted 

 that farmers are not willing to look these facts in the face. I 

 do not mean to deny that there are instances of success in 

 this department of husbandry, instances in which the farmer is 

 well paid for his trouble and attendance, and receives a full 

 compensation for the feed supplied to them ; but these instances 

 are comparatively rare, and so much matter of contingency, 

 that even the most skilful farmers cannot always rely upon 

 their best judgment. The farmer always feels satisfied, if he 

 can, as he terms it, double his money ; that is, if he receives 

 for his cattle in the market, twice as much as they cost him, 

 when he first put them into the stall. This is sometimes done. 

 It is seldom exceeded ; and fatteners often fall short of it. But 

 whether this shall happen or not, depends on so many contin- 

 gencies, as what is the cost of the cattle in the fall, what is 

 the state of the markets in the spring, how long the cattle are 

 to be kept in the stall, and what is the amount of food required 

 to their fattening, that it is extremely difficult to anticipate the 

 result, from a mass of elements so uncertain and fluctuating. 



With respect to a business, as it is now pursued so uncertain 

 in its results as this is, the minds of intelligent and observing 

 farmers have long been inquisitive as to the best means of pur- 

 suing it, so as to make it if possible productive ; or if not profit- 

 able, so as to guard against the uncertainties which attach to 

 it, or the serious losses and disappointments which it often in- 

 volves. Whether this is practicable, and to what extent it is 

 practicable, are highly interesting inquiries. 



