WORCESTER SOCIETY. 209 



wood and logs ; at the expiration of the term the near ox 

 weighed 1,628 lbs. and the off ox 1,617; the near ox having 

 lost 20 lbs. on uncut hay, the off ox gaining 15 on cut hay. As 

 time would not allow the continuance of the experiment, and 

 allow time to make out a report, it was here closed. It will be 

 seen that during the whole time the near ox has gained 108 lbs., 

 the off ox 117 lbs., making 225 lbs. ; the near ox has gained 

 on cut feed 122 lbs., the off ox has gained on cut feed 45 lbs., 

 and lost 13 lbs. ; net gain 32 lbs., making 154 lbs. gain on 

 cut feed ; the near ox has gained on uncut hay 22 lbs., and 

 lost 36 lbs., net loss 14 lbs. ; the off ox has gained on uncut 

 hay 87 lbs., and lost 2 lbs., net gain 85 lbs. ; gain on uncut hay 

 for the pair, 71 lbs. ; greater gain on cut hay than uncut, 

 83 lbs., provided there was no mistake in the second weight of 

 the cattle. If no account is taken of the first four weeks, the "" 

 net gain in favor of cutting hay is 59 lbs. 



A great advantage in cutting hay, at least for working stock, 

 was very obvious during the whole of this experiment ; before 

 the ox feeding on uncut hay had gotten one-half through with 

 his allowance, the ox which had cut feed, had eaten up what 

 was given him, and was lying dov/n taking his rest, and this, 

 at noon, when but little time is allowed for eating and rest, 

 must be an advantage of no small importance. 



The labor of the cattle for the last six weeks, and par- 

 ticularly of the last week, was quite severe ; the loads were 

 usually heavy, and in consequence of considerable bare ground, 

 the draught was in many cases very hard. 



The state of the atmosphere it was not possible to take ac- 

 count of, as the cattle were employed at labor in the open air, 

 without anything to protect them from its severity, (probably 

 suffering more when standing for the loads to be put on than 

 when in exercise,) and would not immediately recover from the 

 effects of their exposure, upon being returned to the barn. 

 The barn where they were kept is warm ; at no time during 

 the winter has the manure where the cattle stood been in anv 

 manner stiffened by the action of the frost. The temperature 

 in the barn must have been nearer 40 than 30 degrees ; but 

 little regard was paid to the warmth of the barn, the cattle 

 being absent so large a portion of the time. It may be proper 

 here to state that it has been deemed expedient to keep open, 

 27 



