212 



WORCESTER SOCIETY. 



Letter from Hon. John Brooks. 



Gentlemen, — Herewith you have an account of some trials 

 in feeding which I have made within the last three months, 

 with a view to determine the relative value of different kinds 

 of food for producing milk, and the proportion of solid manure 

 to the hay consumed. I have purposely delayed this commu- 

 nication beyond the time named in the society's rules for 

 having all applications for premium on feeding filed with the 

 secretary, (the 15th of March,) because I do not propose for a 

 premium, but wish only to add whatever I may to the interest 

 of this important subject. You then, gentlemen, will not con- 

 sider me as competing with gentlemen proposing for premium, 

 but will dispose of this communication in any way you may 

 deem proper. 



December 17, 1851, commenced feeding two cows about 

 seven months after calving ; the cows were gravid and expect- 

 ed to calve about the last of March next; live weight 1,600 lbs.; 

 one of them forty-four the other thirty-one months old. Each 

 trial continued five days. First five days fed on 2 per cent, of 

 live weight, — 



Of cut hay, daily, 32 lbs. 



2 lbs. of Indian meal, hay value, 

 Hay value of daily food. 

 Hay value of five days' food. 

 Cost of five days' food, hay at |c. per lb.. 

 Milk in five days, . 

 Cost of milk, hay at |c. per lb., 1.616 cent the pound, or 

 3.232 cents the wine quart. 



Second Trial, — Fed five days on 2| per cent, of live weight 

 of cut hay — 



Cut hay, daily, 40 lbs. 



Cut hay in five days, 20Q " 



Cost of five days' food, hay at -|c. per lb., . . $1 00 

 Milk in five days, 60 " 



Cost of milk, hay at '|c. per lb., 1.666 cent the lb., or 3.332 

 cents the wine quart. 



These trials show that 2 lbs. of Indian meal, are very nearly 



40 « 



200 « 



%1 00 



61.875 « 



