12 AGIUCULTUKAL EXPElilMEXT tJTATlO.X. [Jan. 



General Introduction. 



The feeding experiments described in this report have been 

 conducted with a view to answering many of the practical 

 questions asked by tlie farmers of Massachusetts. Several 

 of them are a continuation of those })ul)lished in i)revious 

 reports, while others have l>een started to answer questions 

 of importance to the farming community. They are divided 

 as follows : — 



/. Feeding Experiments ivith Milch Cows. 

 The principal objects of these experiments have been : — 



1. To ascertain the comparative value of different kinds 

 of coarse fodders upon the economical production of milk 

 and cream. 



2. To notice the effects of these foods, if any, upon the 

 composition of the milk and cream. 



Many other facts are also brought out in the experiment, 

 as, for example, the numl)er of quarts of milk required to 

 l)roduce a s})ace of cream, etc. 



The general ol)ject of all the experiments with milch cows 

 has been to find those methods of feeding best suited to 

 l^roduce milk and cream at the minimum cost, and to do 

 this by raising a greater variety of coarse fodder articles 

 upon the farm, and supplementing these fodders with con- 

 centrated feed stuffs. 



//. Feeding Experiments ivith Steers. 



These experiments have been in progress for several years, 

 with these objects in view : — 



1 . To ascertain those fodder rations that would produce 

 the greatest growth i"or the least outlay of money. 



