236 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Mr. Stockbridge. If you were going to give the hay to 

 working animals, would you cut the grass early or late ? 

 Does it make any difference whether it is to be given to 

 working or milking animals ? 



Dr. Fisher. I believe the more nourishment hay contains 

 the better it is for the animal, whether a working animal or 

 anything else. It is not the woody fibre that nourishes the 

 animal ; it is the soluble constituents, the elements of starch 

 and sugar. There is a great deal more of these soluble con- 

 stituents in early cut hay than in late. My point is, that the 

 grass blade contains more nourishment than the stock ; but 

 the stock is much more nutritive in its early stage than later. 



Mr. Goodman, of Lenox, presented the following resolution, 

 which was adopted : — 



Resolved, That the thanks of the farmers of Massachusetts 

 be tendered to the Board of Agriculture, and the President of 

 Amherst Agricultural College, for the opportunities afforded, by 

 the meetings just held, of receiving and imparting information 

 on agricultural topics, and for the liberality displayed in pro- 

 curing the attendance of the eminent gentlemen who have 

 addressed the meeting upon special topics. 



Hon. Valorous Taft, of Upton. I only want to say a single 

 word. I suppose that I represent, to a considerable extent, the 

 feeling of the farmers of Massachusetts in reference to the Ag- 

 ricultural College ; and I will tell you what I said to a gentle- 

 men yesterday morning, when he asked me what I thought of 

 that institution. I told him I was conservative, and wanted to 

 see, before expressing an opinion, whether the thing paid ; and 

 it was for that reason, because I have some acquaintance with 

 the farmers of the Commonwealth, that I came up here day 

 before yesterday — that I came here last winter — that I might see 

 with my own eyes ; for sometimes, you know, Yankees think 

 they know more if they see themselves than they do if they 

 merely hear what other men say. I am satisfied, from what I 

 saw last winter, and from what I have seen since I have been 

 here, that if things go on as they have been going, the college 

 is to be a success, and that it will have the approbation and 

 support of the farmers of Massachusetts. 



The Board then adjourned to 7|^ o'clock. 



