ESSEX SOCIETY. 127 



ter, in dog days, — which is often said to be owing to the weath- 

 er, when, in fact, it was because the cows had not proper food. 

 Another advantage, arising from feeding cows with corn stalks 

 at this time, is, that they are not so likely to become breachy. 

 Hunger, at this season, impels them to seek for food beyond 

 the fence, and they form habits which are a constant annoyance, 

 the year round. 



There is one general rule, by which we can tell, whether a 

 particular kind of food has a tendency to produce a great flow 

 of milk, or not ; that is, by noticing the effect which it has upon 

 the solid excrement of the cow. Green grass produces a great 

 flow of mflk, and causes the excrement to be soft. Potatoes 

 make the excrement softer than carrots, and produce more milk. 

 Wheat, bran, or shorts, make it softer than Indian meal, and 

 produce more milk. Green corn stalks make it harder than 

 grass, but softer than English hay. My inference, then, is, 

 that they are better for making milk than hay, but not so good 

 as grass. 



But to return to the question, which is the best way of using 

 the top stalks ? They are of more value, cut and fed green to our 

 stock, than used in any other way. I know that, in Septem- 

 ber, our cows will live without them ; but if the cows are well 

 fed with stalks, in the morning, before they are put in the field, 

 we can make the grass in the field last much longer, and the 

 cows wfll do better than they will with a full supply of grass 

 for a few days, and then be cut short. Working oxen will do 

 well, fed upon green stalks, in September. If we wish to fit our 

 oxen for the butcher, there is no way to do it cheaper, than by 

 feeding them well with green stalks, in addition to what they 

 get in the pasture. 



The fodder which is put in the barn, should be used in the 

 early part of winter, for it is then better, and is eaten more 

 readily, than it is after it becomes thoroughly dry. 



Harvesting. When we have a cold season, and the corn is 

 likely to be injured by the frost, it is best to cut it up, as soon 

 as it begins to harden, and stook it. In some parts of New 

 England, this is the uniform practice. It has some advantage 

 over that of topping the stalks ; the fodder is better, it can be 



