NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



3G1 



iiiul on the 23d February the near ox weighed 

 1G48 lbs. and the off ox 1602 lbs., by which it ap- 

 pears the near ox gained 2 lbs. on cut feed and 

 tlie off ox lost 2 lbs. on uncut bay. From Feb. 

 23d to March 1st, one week, the cattle were 

 worked G days in drawing rocks, w T ood and logs; 

 at the expiration of the term the near ox weighed 

 1628 lbs. and the off ox 1G17 ; the near ox having 

 lost 20 lbs. on uncut hay, the off ox gaining 15 on 

 cut hay. As time would not allow the continu- 

 ance of the experiment, and allow time to make 

 out a report, it was here closed. It will be seen 

 that during the whole time the near ox has gained 

 108 lbs., the off ox 117 lbs., making 225 lbs.; the 

 near ox has gained on cut feed 1221bs., the off ox 

 has gained on cut feed 45 lbs., and lost 13 lbs. ; 

 net gain 32 lbs., making 154 lbs. gain on cut 

 feed — the near ox has gained on uncut hay 22 lbs. 

 and list 3G lbs., net loss 14 lbs. ; the off ox has 

 gained on uncut hay 87 lbs., and lost 2 lbs., net 

 gain 85; gain on uncut hay, for the pair 71 lbs.; 

 greater gain on cut hay than uncut, 83 lbs., pro- 

 vided there was no mistake in the second weight 

 of the cattle. If no account is taken of the first 

 four weeks the net gain in favor of cutting hay i 

 59 lbs. 



A great advantage in cutting hay, at least for 

 working stock, was very obvious during the whole 

 of this experiment ; before the ox feeding on un- 

 cut hay had gotten one-half through with his al- 

 lowance, the ox which had cut feed, had eaten up 

 what was given him and was lying down taking 

 his rest, and this at noon, when but little time is 

 allowed for eating and rest, must be an advantage 

 of no small importance. 



The labor of the cattle for the last six weeks, 

 and particularly of the last week, was quite severe, 

 the loads were usually heavy, and in consequence 

 of considerable bare ground, the draught was in 

 many cases very hard. 



The state of the atmosphere it was not possible 

 to take account of, as the cattle were employed at 

 labor in the open air without anything to protect 

 them from its severity, (probably suffering more 

 when standing for the loads to be put on than 

 when in exercise,) and would not immediately re- 

 cover from the effects of their exposure, upon be- 

 ing returned to the barn. The barn where they 

 were kept is warm ; at no time during the winter 

 has the manure where the cattle stood been in any 

 manner stiffened by the action of the frost. The 

 temperature in the barn must have been nearer 40 

 than 30 degrees ; but little regard was paid to the 

 warmth of the barn, the cattle being absent so 

 large a portion of the time. It may be proper 

 here to state that it has been deemed expedient to 

 keep open through all the hours of the day, the 

 upper half of a small door for the benefit of air and 

 ventilation, in addition to some small windows. 

 The average number of hours that the cattle have 

 worked per day has been six, but during the lat- 

 ter part of the term their hours were occasionally 

 extended to nine. During the whole trial the ox- 

 en had nothing given them to eat except hay as 

 stated, and their only food from the 15th Decem- 

 ber to March 1st, both inclusive, was hay and 

 water. 



Had I exercised my own discretion in this mat- 

 ter, I should have selected two animals for the trial 

 who would have had nothing to do but to eat and 

 grow fat, as more likely to furnish a result which 



would hare appeared far better on paper, and then 

 should have been able to have complied with all 

 the requirements of the society. You will recollect 

 that you suggested to me, to make the trial with 

 the working oxen, saying that you wished the tri- 

 als should be made under all the circumstances 

 common to a farmer's stock ; that it was perhaps 

 more important as applied to working stock than 

 any other ; that you doubted whether any other 

 person would make a trial with oxen actually at 

 work at the time, and expressed a wish that I 

 would do it. I yielded to your wishes, and at 

 your request have made the trial ; the particulars 

 of which have been stated, to be disposed of in 

 such a manner as the committee shall judge \ rip- 

 er. 



These cattle were bred in Vermont, were pur- 

 chased for you when they were about 3 1-2 years 

 old, and about these days are supposed to be com- 

 ing six years old. 



It should have previously been stated that the 

 hay as given to the cattle was all of it in a dry 

 state. Amuerst II. Hawes. 



LETTER FROM HON. JOHN BROOKS. 



To the Committee of the Worcester County Agricultural So- 

 ciety on Feeding: 



Gentlemen : — Herewith you have an account 

 of some trials in feeding which I have made within 

 the last three months, with a view to determine 

 the relative value of different kinds of food for pro- 

 ducing milk, and the proportion of solid manure 

 to the hay consumed. 1 have purposely delayed 

 tills communication beyond the time named in the 

 society's rules for having all applications for pre- 

 mium on feeding filed with the [Secretary (the 15th 

 of March,) because I do not propose for a premi- 

 um, but wish only to add whatever I may to the in- 

 terest of this important subject. You then, gen- 

 tlemen, will not consider me as competing with 

 gentlemen proposing for premium, but will dispose 

 of this communication in any way you may deem 

 proper. 



December 17, 1851, commenced feeding two 

 cows about 7 months after calving ; the cows were 

 gravid and expected to calve about the last of 

 March next; live weight 1C00 lbs.; one of them 44 

 the other 3i months old. Each trial continued 5 

 days. First 5 days fed on 2 per cent, of live weight, 

 of cut hay daily, .... 32 lbs. 

 2 lbs. Indian meal, hay value, . . 8 

 Hay value of daily food, . . 40 



Hay value of five days' food, . . 200 

 Cost of 5 days' food, hay at 1-2 c. per lb., $1,00. 

 Milk in five days, . . . . 61.875 lbs. 

 Cost of milk, hay at 1-2 cent a 11)., 1. GIG cents 

 the lb., or 3.232 cents the wine quart. 



second trial. 



Fed five days on 2 1-2 percent, of live weight of 

 cut hay daily, . . . . .40 lbs. 



Cut hay in five days, . • • 200 



Cost of 5 days' food, hay at 1-2 c. per lb., $1,00. 



Milk in five days, GO lbs. 



Cost of milk, hay at 1-2 cent per lb. , 1 .666 cents 

 the lb., or 3.332 cents the wine quart. 



These trials show that 2 lbs. of Indian meal 

 are very nearly equal to 1-2 per cent, of live weight 

 of hay, or that one pound of meal is equal, nearly, 

 to 4 lbs. of good English hay. 



