FOD 



FOD 



151 



vented to facilitate this operation, 

 and great ingenuity has been dis- 

 played in their construction ; but 

 the general opinion seems to be 

 that the simplest machines, costing 

 not more than from three to five 

 dollars, are the most economical 

 on the whole. There is no doubt 

 that the subdivision of the food, 

 and frequent feeding which our 

 long winters afford ample time to 

 effect, are exceedingly useful, and 

 economical, compared with the 

 wasteful modes heretofore in use, 

 particularly that of throwing down 

 large bundles of hay and corn- 

 stalks to the cattle in the yard. 

 No man of the slightest observa- 

 tion can have failed to remark 

 that at least one fourth part of the 

 fodder so administered is given to 

 be destroyed. 



" Salting all fresh hay, when 

 put up, is a great addition to it. 

 A respectable farmer of Herkimer 

 County, New York, who keeps a 

 large stock of cattle, says, he is 

 certain, that adding eight quarts of 

 salt to each ton of hay will make 

 it go as far as a ton and a quarter 

 that has not been salted. At the 

 same time hay may be put into 

 the mow, when salted, in a much 

 greener state than without it ; and 

 when taken out will be found al- 

 most as green, and apparently as 

 fresh, as when first stowed away." 

 Farmer^s Assistant. 



" Meadows which produce wild 

 grass ought to be mowed very early 

 and salted. But cattle should not 

 be kept constantly on salted 

 fodder. 



It is observed in the Domestic 

 Encyclopaedia, (art. Cattle,) that 



" the first object in the article food 

 is wholesomeness : wild cattle 

 feed entirely on green vegetables 

 which they find throughout the 

 year. Similar nutriments should, 

 if possible be procured for tame 

 cattle in all seasons. Therefore 

 cabbages, turnips, carrots, and the 

 mangel wurzel are recommended 

 as winter food." 



FODDERING, feeding cattle 

 with dry food. We have occa- 

 sion to begin to fodder, most com- 

 monly, about the beginning of 

 November; and to continue doing 

 it till the middle of May, and 

 sometimes later. 



We should take care not to be- 

 gin to fodder till it is really neces- 

 sary : Because cattle that are fod- 

 dered, will not graze so diligently. 

 When it is once begun, the cattle 

 will expect it, and it must be con- 

 tinued. When we first begin, we 

 should fodder early in the morn- 

 ing only ; for at that time of the 

 day the frost is usually on the 

 grass ; so that the cattle will not 

 graze. They should not yet be 

 housed, horses excepted : But in 

 wet weather the whole stock 

 should be housed ; for they bear 

 cold better than wetness. Or if 

 not put into the barn, they should 

 have a shed in the yard, under 

 which they may shelter them- 

 selves. 



The meanest fodder should not 

 be dealt out first of all. The 

 husks and stalks of Indian corn 

 are suitable for this season. The 

 straw and the worst hay should be 

 reserved to give them in the cold- 

 est weather ; for it is then that 

 they have the keenest appetites. 



