16 BOAKD OF AGRICULTURE. [Rub. Doc. 



HOME-GROWN OR PURCHASED CATTLE FOODS. 



BY PROF. JAMES CHEESMAN, SOUTHBOROUGH. 



The histoiy of farming in Massachusetts is the history of 

 migration of tlie rural population, and the transformation 

 of industries. 



From necessity the Bay State farmer early liecame an in- 

 tensive cultivator. The physical conformation of his land 

 and its rocky surface have compelled him to lihiit the area 

 of tillage. 



In every system of farming well-kept grass land and a 

 large proportion of the cultivated area maintained in grass 

 have formed the foundation of animal industry\ Inasmuch 

 as we must all have grass land for hay, it is important to 

 consider how much land we should use, and what quantity 

 and quality of herbage we should produce. 



I have never known a successful farmer who could not 

 manao;e well his grass lands. The conclusion is forced on 

 us that every cattle man who has achieved distinction as a 

 cultivator won it by learning how to grow for the least 

 amount of money what is admitted to be the costliest ingre- 

 dient of an animal's ration. In a mixed ration it is usual to 

 figure the cost of hay at the ruling prices in towns and cities, 

 and to value it for what we get out of it in comparison with 

 the yield of such concentrated feeds as new-jjrocess linseed 

 meal, cotton-seed meal, bran and other cattle foods. The 

 value of the several components of these substances deter- 

 mines for us the relative value of hay. Calculated by any 

 process of reckoning, we must acknowledge that hay is costly ; 

 we cannot argue against the hay crop because it is costly. 

 The lesson suggested is rather reduction of cost, and such a 

 manao-ement of grass lands as to enable us to grow the largest 

 yields per acre at the least cost. 



