r ) THE GENESEE FARMElt, 205 (^ 



and useful materials exist in certain kinds of food, cooking can ouly be useful by aiding 

 their solubility. It can make them more soluble, and on that account probably a less 

 amount of food will pass through the system undigested. No one supposes that if we 

 were to cook sawdust for any length of time, we should make it good food ; those parts 

 of the substance which are indissoluble, and which consist of woody matter, would still 

 remain so ; but the other parts, such as starch, gum, oil, etc., would be made soluble in 

 water, and consequently could be more easily assimilated by the animal. But it is 

 important that these things be not carried too far. We know very well that the 

 functions (tf digestion are very important, nor are they so simple as some imagine. 

 There are more processes than one going on, and there are a great many things to be 

 considered. If the requisite amount of saliva be not swallowed, it may cause a great 

 defect in an important element of health ; and if animals swallov/ their food too quickly, 

 they will probably not have sufficient saliva for digestion. We need more light on this, 

 as on almost every other agricultural subject. 



CUTTING FOOD FOR STOCK. 



It is generally admitted to be good economy to cut hay for cattle, if it is of an inferior 

 quality, much less being wasted by the animal ; and it affords an excellent opportunity 

 of mixing meal or shorts with it, by way of seasoning, making it more palatable as well 

 as more nutritious. But many formers have their doubts whether it pays to cut good 

 hay — whether much benefit is derived from the operation in the way of rendering it 

 more easy of digestion, &c. With a view to settle the question, the Worcester Agricul- 

 tural Society offered two premiums, of $30 and $20, for the best experiments on the 

 subject, laying down the rules according to which the experiments should be conducted, 

 which were briefly as follows : 



" The trial to be made witli at least two animals, as near alike in condition, age, &c., as possible, 

 the time of trial to last at least eight weeks, divided into periods of two weeks each. One animal to 

 be fed with cut while tlie other is fed with uncut hay ; the feed of each to be reversed at the expira- 

 tion of two weeks, and so on alternately each two weeks, during the trial. If any other food except 

 hay be given, (such as roots or meal,) tlie same quantity to be given to each, that the result in rela- 

 tion to the cutting the hay be not affected by other food. The animals to be kept in the same stable. 

 and at the same temperature. Each animal to be weighed at the commencement of each two weeks, 

 and at the close of tlie experiment. The same kiud of liay (what is usually called English hav) to be 

 used during the whole time. Tlie time of giving food and driuk to be regular, and also of milkiu"'. 

 The time of weighing to be in the morning, and before the animal has been allowed to drink." 



There were four competitors for the premiums — Messrs. Demond, Dodge, Lincoln, 

 and IIawes. 



Mr. Demond's experiments were on two cows, seven years old, dried off the 10th of 

 December, 1851. The experiment conmienced Jan. 1, 1852, and lasted eight weeks. 

 In addition to the hay, each cow was allowed a half peck of turneps per day, or seven 

 bushels to each cow during the experiment, which are considered equivalent to 58 lbs. 

 of hay. 



^Ir. Dodge's experiments were with two steers, both three years old this spring. 

 Trial commenced 3d of Jan., 1852, and continued eight weeks. Each steer, in addition 

 to the hay, was given two quarts of meal per day, which is equivalent to 293 lbs. of hay 

 for each steer during the eight weeks. 



Mr. Lincoln's experiments were with two mi'ch cows, four years old each ; one 

 calved the 14th and the other the 20th of Jun<', 1851. Trial commenced 9th of Jan., 

 1852. In addition to the hay, each cow eat 648 lb.s. of carrots, equivalent to l7l lbs. 

 of hay. 



Mr. IIawes' experiments were on two working oxen, seven years old each this spring. 





