50 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



of here to-day, I believe in it most thoroughly. That is the 

 way we can compete with the West. I believe in most 

 thoroughly manuring the ground and most thoroughly culti- 

 vating it before planting. I would use phosphates if I did 

 not have manure and plenty of it. I would manure the 

 ground well, cultivaie it well, and take good care of it all 

 through. I do not believe in going over too much ground. 

 Our farmers are trying to cultivate too much land, laying 

 out too much labor. A man should only plant what he can 

 take care of well and manure well. I believe that is the 

 secret of success to every young farmer. 



Mr. J. H. Dyer (of Marll)orough). I would like to ask 

 the lecturer in regard to the matter of feeding oats and peas, 

 as was recommended to us a year ago by Ex-Governor Hoard 

 of Wisconsin. That is to say, how shall we feed them, and 

 in what quantities shall we feed them, so as to get their best 

 feedins; value ? 



Professor Chep]sman. That is rather a large question. I 

 must fall back upon the general propositions laid down in 

 the paper. If the land on the farm is available for growing 

 oats, and is not absorbed l^y other crops, it is certainly 

 advisable to grow that one, and use the mixture in such pro- 

 portion as you find convenient. That is to say, if you have 

 enough of it, you can feed from four to five pounds a day in 

 combination with other mixtures of grain ; if you have a 

 small quantity, you would naturally use a smaller propor- 

 tion. It depends to some extent upon what other feeding 

 materials are at your command. On general principles, I 

 always recommend the use of oats as feeding material in 

 some form ; and under existing conditions I see no way of 

 obtaining oat feed in any form whatever unless we grow it 

 on the farm. 



Mr. Dyer. I see that the gentleman had the idea of feed- 

 ing the grain itself. Now, it would be impossible, almost, 

 here in Massachusetts to grow this crop so that we could 

 harvest the grain and make use of it as a cattle food. We 

 must grow it and dry it or ensilage it. Governor Hoard 

 gave us the idea that we might supplement our bran and 

 other nitrogenous foods by raising oats and peas. I have a 

 silo filled with ensilage corn, the best I knew how to raise. 



