NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



27 



tf.aRiM/ii: 



had experience in the business. We know of many 

 who have seen such great advantages in this mode of 

 preparing fodder, that they buy a cutter when they 

 have only one animal, a horse or cows, for instance, 

 to feed. 



In cutting fodder there is great saving of food, 

 for in most cases there is in hay, straw, and partic- 

 ularly in coarse fodder, some parts that are not 

 palatable though they contain a good share of nu- 

 t-riment. When these are cut up and mixed with 

 the rest, moistened with water, and meal or bran 

 ure mixed with them, and occasionally a little salt, 

 OT a very small quantity of salt daily, the animal 

 eats the Avhole up clean. This saving of food is 

 great when the fodder is of an ordinary quality, and 

 Jiable to be wasted or rejected. 



Another great advantage in the use of cut food, 

 is the despatch with which the animal eats it, af-j 

 fording time to rest, or an opportunity to labor in 

 due season. We have observed that some horse.- 

 fed on moist hay and ground grain, would eat a meal 

 nearly as quick as a man would eat his, instead oi 

 T«j<iuiring two or three hours, as is often the case 

 when horses arc fed on fodder in its crude state. 



Chopped and moistened food is more wholesome 

 than dry. In hot weather a horse may be very hot, 

 y nd at the same time very hungry and thirsty. Bui 

 what is to be done, if he must be fed on dry hay ' 

 He is too hot to drink, and too thirsty to eat. But 

 if prepared food be placed before him, he can eat. 

 :.'ntl satisfy his hunger, and allay his thirst with 



the 



HAY, STRAW AND CORN-STALK CUTTER. 



So great is the utility of cutting fodder for stock, lb jcome cool so that he may drink without injury, 

 that it can only he appreciated by those who have! In cold weather, too, a horse might suffer from 



drinking when waim, or eating dry food when suf- 

 fering from thirst. 



In some cases animals fail in their teeth, while 

 otherwise they are sound and strong, and for 

 many years would do good service, if their foo<i 

 was prepared so that they could eat it in due time, 

 and without difficulty. The fodder cutter is a means 

 of lengthening out the period of usefulness of many 

 highly valuable animals. 



Some horses tliat liave been severely afflicted 

 with the heaves while fed on dry fodder, have been 

 so far relieved by being kept on cut, moistened 

 food, that they have labored constantly, and have 

 been regarded as wholly recovered from the disease. 

 Oxen, as well as horses, need their fodder prepared 

 that they may eat it in less time and with less labor 

 I n masticating it, in order to have an opportunity 

 to chew the cud. As ruminants constantly prac- 

 tise this when they have time, they must suffer an 

 inconvenience when compelled to labor immediate- 

 ly after eating. This operation, so important to 

 their health and comfort, could be attended to mucli 

 Setter by using cut food, and thus reducing xhp. 

 time for eating. Even cows, sheep, and other ani- 

 mals would tind an advantage in cut food, as well 

 as the owner, in the economy of this article, as thev 

 I'ould .soon eat their meals, and thus have time for 

 rumination and rest. All animals require rest, a^* 

 well as the human race. 



In giving animals salt daily in their food, cau- 

 ion is necessary, lest it be fed too freely. From the 



vaoist rj in his food; and he will gradiall> 'experience of the best English larmers, who keep 



