SECRETARY'S REPORT. 95 



perhaps there would be a great diversity of opinion as to the 

 extent of it and the means of prevention. No one can doubt 

 that animals will thrive better, make more flesh, milk or wool, 

 on rich food than on poor ; or with an occasional feed of roots 

 or meal, and then dry fodder given them in such a way as to 

 have it all consumed, than to be kept on one article the whole 

 time. 



Therefore the farmer who feeds nothing but long, dry corn- 

 stalks and coarse hay piled into his mangers in such quantities 

 that every morning he has to throw out orts enough to litter 

 his whole stock thoroughly, is suffering or committing a waste, 

 either in his mode of feeding, or in the quality and the 

 harvesting his cornstalks and hay. 



We believe there is no question as to the expediency of 

 cutting stalks, both on account of having them better eaten 

 and for convenience in getting out the manure. 



However favorably we may think of the further preparation 

 of food for cattle by cutting, wetting, steaming, <fec., it is not 

 proper for us to enter into the subject, as it is in the hands of 

 a very thorough, competent, and experienced committee of this 

 Board for next year's Report. We may, however, allude to the 

 fact that the manure made from animals fed on rich food is 

 proportionately more valuable than that from poor food ; that 

 while, with hay, Indian corn is here the great staple food for 

 fattening cattle and sheep, some other articles more stimulating 

 and fattening will make stronger manure. Wheat shorts pro- 

 duce milk, linseed meal produces fat, and cotton-seed meal pro- 

 duces both in a higher degree, and makes manure much more 

 valuable than either ; by analysis equal to four tons of the best 

 hay. There are two kinds of it, one of which only is fit to feed ; 

 that from which the hull is stripped before grinding, is to be 

 had from the Union Oil Company, Providence, and, in the 

 opinion of some of the best farmers and of some of the com- 

 mittee who have tried it, will produce more milk with an equal 

 condition of flesh in cows or ewes than any other feed. Of 

 roots, mangolds will give the greatest yield at the least expense 

 by far, and make a great flow of good milk and improve the 

 condition of the animals. 



It is thought that feeding " cobbage," or corn ground in the 

 ear, is a waste ; most farmers doubting if the value of the cob 



