METHODS OF FEEDING. 257 



food ; but I would just as lief have the hot water as the steam ; 

 aud the choice is a mere question of convenience. 



Now, with regard to the continual feeding of animals. 

 There have been two discoveries made in Massachusetts that 

 are creditable to the farming community. One was made by 

 ^he scientific agricultural portion, and one by the practical 

 portion. The discovery made with regard to the flowing of 

 sap is so admirable that every scientific man accepts it, and 

 farmers are all proud of it as one of the results of the Agri- 

 cultural College. The other discovery was made by a prac- 

 tical farmer in one of the interior towns of this Commonwealth. 

 He learned by experience that a cow cannot eat without ces- 

 sation, any more than a man can. He laid down the rule 

 for the feeding of animals, that they should have rest, repose, 

 a pause between theii* meals, just as men should. He dis- 

 covered that if they were fed a certain length of time in the 

 morning, and a certain length of time in the afternoon, with 

 an interval of repose, it was enough for them. What a val- 

 uable discovery that was to all of us ! I wish to say here, 

 that since I have adopted that method myself, I have been 

 entirely satisfied with the results. My cattle are now in such 

 condition that I am satisfied with them, and they appear to be 

 satisfied Avith themselves. The mornino: feedins: takes from 

 two and a half to three hours. They are then fed with a 

 small quantity of roots in the forenoon, aud in the latter part 

 of the afternoon they have their feed of cut hay, shorts, meal,' 

 and then a foddering of dry hay ; and that ends it. They are 

 allowed to drink twice a day. They are in a healthy condition. 

 The system economizes hay ; and is one of the best discover- 

 ies in the mode of feeding that I have ever known, or applied. 

 We are all under obligations to the gentleraai^ who made it. 



Now I have opened this subject for discussion and thrown 

 out some hints with regard to the general management of an- 

 imals, I beg of you to treat your cattle as well as you know 

 how during their lives, and when you have made up your 

 minds that their career must end, select the most humane 

 mode of slaughtering possible. Feed according to the best 

 rule. Take it for granted that if 3^our standard is high, you 

 will be disappointed in many instances, but also take it for 

 granted, that unless your standard is high, and you observe 

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