ON CUTTING AND PUEPAUING FEED. 63 



biute animals is managed ; and I liave often been led to the 

 conclusion that not a third of the number is supported on most 

 farms which might be advantageously kept ; and those, like- 

 wise, from injudicious manageinent or culpable neglect, in an 

 interior condition. As much discretion and care are required 

 in the disposal of our produce, as in raising and harvesting it ; 

 and, to farmers properly regardlul of their own interest, there 

 are equal motives for the one as the other. Indeed, it is less 

 mortifying to fail in obtairring our crops, than, afier having 

 obtained and stored them, to see them wasted through ignor- 

 ance, carelessness, extravagance, or improvidence. Hegularity 

 in feeding, to the health and thrift of the animal, is almost of 

 equal importance with abundance ; and the mode or form in 

 \vhich the feed is given is not of less moment both in regard to 

 he animal himself and the uses and advantages of the fetd. 



This is a subject which has much occupied the attention of 

 intelligent and inquisitive Hirmers ; and the present general 

 scarcity of hay and fodder throughout the country, so much 

 increased by the early and most extraordinary severity of the 

 first month of winter, and the consequent high prices of every 

 kind of agricultural produce, renders the subject, at this time, 

 of peculiar importance. I have made such experiments myself 

 as fully to satisfy me of the great economy and advantage of 

 cutting all long feed, hay, straw, and corn fodder, for horses and 

 neat cattle ; and am convinced that the saving may at least be 

 put down as one third of the expense ; and in some cases, where 

 the price of hay has been very high, fully one half; and these 

 trials have not been merely ocuasional and accidental, but the 

 experience of many years. I have ample details on this subject 

 in my own journals, but I prefer to give the experiments and 

 opinions of others. Into these I shall go pretty largely, as far 

 as I may deem them interesting and important. 



Parkinson, in his Treatise on the Alanagement of Live Stock, 

 thus speaks of " feeding horses in America." Vol. ii. p. 156. 

 " The Dutchmen have introduced a method of feeding horses 

 in America, which I consider supeiior to any mode I ever saw 

 practised. I tried it when I resided in that country, and found 



