A NEW KIND OF FOOD. 139 



with a sufficient quantity of bean-straw, oat-straw, and 

 shells of oats, in equal proportions, to supply them 

 three times a day with as much as they will eat. The 

 whole of the materials are moistened and blended 

 together, and, after being well steamed, are given to 

 the animals in a warm state. The attendant is allowed 

 one pound to one and a half pounds per cow, according 

 to circumstances, of bean-meal, which he is charged to 

 give to each cow in proportion to the yield of milk ; 

 those in full milk getting two pounds each per day, 

 others but little. It is dry, and mixed with the steamed 

 food on its being dealt out separately. When this is 

 eaten up, green food is given, consisting of cabbages 

 from October to December, kohl rabi till February, and 

 mangold till grass time. With a view to nicety of 

 flavor, I limit the supply of green food to thirty or 

 thirty-five pounds per day for each. After each feed, 

 four pounds of meadow hay, or twelve pounds per day, 

 is given to each cow. They are allowed water twice 

 a day to the extent they will drink." 



Bean-straw uncooked being found to be hard and 



unpalatable, it was steamed to make it soft and pulpy, 



when it possessed an agreeable odor, and imparted its 



flavor to the whole mess. It was cut for this purpose 



just before ripening, but after the bean was fully 



grown, and in this state was found to possess neaily 



double the' amount of albuminous matter, so valuable to 



milch cows, of good meadow or upland hay. Bean or 



shorts is also vastly improved by steaming or soaking 



with hot water, when its nutriment is more readily 



assimilated. It contains about fourteen per cent, of 



albumen, and is rich in phosphoric acid. Rape-cake was 



found to be exceedingly valuable. Linseed and cotton- 



seed cake may probably be substituted for it in this 



country. Mr. Horsfall is accustomed to turn his cows 



