SECRETARY'S REPORT. 45 



Twenty-five pounds of hay to each of 20 cows, per 

 day, = 500 pounds. ^ 



Ton of hay consumed in 4 days at $12 per ton, = $3 per day. 



Cost of keeping each cow on hay, (20 at $Z per day,) = 15 

 cents per day. 



Ten pounds of corn-fodder to each of 20 cows per day, = 200 

 pounds. 



Ton of corn-fodder consumed in 10 days, at 14 per ton, = 40 

 cents per day. 



Meal, 2 quarts each, 40 quarts at 2 cents per quart, = 80 

 cents per day. 



Cost of fuel, (steaming every other day,) 8 cents each time, 

 4 cents per day, = 40 cents. 



Amount of expense per day, on the ton of corn-fodder = $1.60. 



Cost of keeping each cow, (20 at $1.60 per day,) = 8 cents.* 



In addition to this estimate, in favor of steaming the coarser 

 kinds of food for cattle, we should take into consideration the 

 undoubted fact that cattle are kept in better condition on the 

 proposed kind and amount of steamed food, than they are on 

 the proposed amount of English hay. For milch cows, the 

 former is undoubtedly preferable. And no one can doubt the 

 economy of converting the hard and coarse stalks of corn, 

 which are too apt to be entirely wasted, or to encumber the 

 manure heap, into a nutritious and palatable food. The same 

 may be said of straw and coarser hay. We do not propose to 

 describe the mode of steaming, and the apparatus by which it 

 is done — this knowledge is easily obtained by all who would try 

 the experiment. But we are satisfied, from experience, and from 

 the testimony of some of our best practical farmers, that steaming 

 is worthy of careful consideration. In estimating the cost of 

 steaming corn-fodder and coarse straw and hay, we have added 

 the expense of meal, because it is essential to the process. 



* In making these estimates we have been governed by what seemed to be 

 a fair average price of the various articles of food consumed throughout the 

 State. We have estimated a ton of corn-fodder as worth, before cutting and 

 cooking, one-third of our estimated price of hay. Some farmers think it is 

 worth one-half as much as hay. So of meal — we have estimated it at Gl 

 cents per bushel. Wherever the prices are different from these, it will be easy 

 to make calculations accordingly, and thus establish the ratio. 



