446 [Senate 



apples, fed alternately, for four months ; they received no other food 

 of any description — water, even, was denied them. They weighed 

 when killed, two hundred and fifty pounds each — the whole hog was 

 covered with a very thick layer of fat, perfectly white and firm — the 

 skin was thin, and the pork pronounced by connoisseurs exceedingly 

 fine and sweet. The hams were not inferior to Westphalia, notwith- 

 standing they use one pound of sugar to three of salt in curing them. 

 They will keep perfectly well all summer if placed in a barrel, and 

 completely covered with pulverized charcoal dust. I have kept them 

 during two summers and a winter in this manner. 



Calves. — When my calves are intended for the dairy, they are al- 

 lowed to run with the dam five months — and she is well fed — having 

 a meal of bran, independent of her daily allowance. At the expira- 

 tion of the time specified, the calf is taken from the mother, and 

 turned into a small field, well covered with fine grass — but not allow- 

 ed water ; the dew is sufficient to quench her thirst ; if permitted to 

 drink freely, they become bloated and mis-shapen. 



Calves intended for the butcher, are taken from the dam when one 

 hour old, and fed upon her milk, mixed with fine Indian meal, for 

 three or four weeks, when they are sold ; if left with the cow twenty- 

 four hours, it is difficult to learn them to drink from the pail — and 

 the cow forms an attachment to them, the remembrance of which 

 lasts for several weeks, causing her much anxiety and restlessness — 

 whereas if deprived at once, she never misses them, and becomes im- 

 mediately docile yielding her full quantity of milk. If a bull calf, 

 and it is intended to raise him, he should have the use of two cows, 

 running with them, for six months — after which he may be fed the 

 milk of one cow, mixed with tepid skim milk and Indian meal, with 

 fine hay, for six months. By this treatment, although expensive, he 

 will gain more in one year, than by the other mode in two — he will 

 be very powerful and fully compensate his owner for extra feed. 



Oxen should be fed on dry cut hay and corn meal, occasionally 

 ground with the cob, and oats, all summer. I find by such treatment, 

 their flesh becomes firm, and their constitution strong, so much so 

 that they will endure labor equal to the horse, and will work during- 

 the whole season, without intermission, except on Sunday. I have 

 fed them on grass all summer ; the consequence has been that they 

 required rest at least two days in the week, and when put to hard 

 labor protruded their tongues from their mouths and evidently suf- 

 fered much. The reason I suppose is, that green grass contains 80 

 parts of water, in 100 parts — whereas the hay, having parted with 

 the water, eaten, comparatively speaking, in one-third the bulk — yields 

 to the animal starch, woofly fibre, phosphate of lime, albumen, sugar 

 &c., and thus strengthens him to endure much fatigue. The ox is a pa- 

 tient, quiet and sensible animal — and may be taught to perform many 

 of the horse's duties — when old may be sold for beef, and is conse- 

 quently a much cheaper animal to keep on the farm, than the horse. 



Horses. — My horses are kept up the year round, and are never al- 

 lowed to eat grass, or any green crop. They are fed twelve quarts 

 of oats daily, and a certain quantity of hay ; occasionally their oats 



