ON COMPARATIVE VALUE OF CROPS. 43 



years, without awakening that attention in the minds of cultivators 

 their importance demands. When we take into view the fac.t, that 

 so large a portion of the time of the farmer, both in summer and 

 winter, is occupied in securing or distributing the food of his cattle ; 

 it cannot be otherwise than a matter of deep interest, to regulate 

 this labor to the best advantage. If therefore, by any suggestions 

 in our power to offer, valuable information may be elicited or dissemi- 

 nated, we shall, in part at least, have discharged our duty. If we can 

 be so fortunate, as to induce any one to undertake a series of accurate 

 experiments, to test the truth or fallacy of our conjectures, an im- 

 portant point will be gained. We are fully sensible that facts, de- 

 rived from a continued series of observations are wanting on this 

 subject. We are surprized that those most interested in these mat- 

 ters should be willing to remain so imperfectly informed, as are 

 a large proportion of the farming community. 



Unglisk Hay is proposed as the test of the comparative value 

 of the other articles used. This is so generally used, so valuable, 

 and of so uniform a character that it may well have this distinction. 

 Tabular statements, from time to time, have been published, varying 

 with the experience of those who framed them, giving general 

 views, approximating without doubt to correctness. One of this 

 kind can be found in the Report of the Commissioner of Patents for 

 1843, page 120, from which an abstract was taken in our Transac- 

 tions for 1844, page 33. But we are not quite satisfied, for in- 

 stance, with being informed that 275 pounds of green stalks of In- 

 dian corn are equal to 100 lbs of hay, or that 21 pounds of green 

 corn fodder, equals one pound of hay. We want to know something 

 further about it. We want to know, for example, how this kind of 

 feed will operate on a stock of milch cows, by increasing the quan- 

 tity or improving the quality of their milk. In the vicinity of a 

 ■dense population, the supplying the market with milk is one of the 

 best applications of the produce of the farm. Many expedients are 

 adopted, to furnish food, when the ordinary supplies are cut off; as 

 when the pasture lands are parched with drought, in August and 

 September. Perhaps no one auxiliary has come into more general 

 use, than green corn stalks, cultivated for this purpose, after the 

 crop q[ gi-a^s has been gathered. Why is this done ? Has any one 

 made certain the fact, by experiment, that this kind of feed does 

 actually increase the quantity of milk, to any considerable extent ? 



