ESSEX AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 103 



to induce any one to undertake a series of accurate experiments, 

 to test the truth or fallacy of our conjectures, an important 

 point will be gained. We are fully sensible that facts, derived 

 from a continued series of observations, are wanting on this 

 subject. We are surprised, that those most interested in these 

 matters, should be willing to remain so imperfectly informed, as 

 are a large proportion of the farming community. 



EiigUsh hay is proposed as the test of the comparative value 

 of the other articles used. This is so generally used, so valua- 

 ble, and of so uniform a character, that it may well have this 

 distinction. Tabular statements, from time to time, have been 

 published, varying with the experience of those who framed 

 them, giving general views, approximating, without doubt, to 

 correctness. One of this kind can be found in the Report of 

 the Commissioner of Patents, for 1843, page 120, from which 

 an abstract was taken in our Transactions for 1844, page 33. 

 But we are not quite satisfied, for instance, with being informed 

 that 275 pounds of green stalks of Indian corn are equal to 100 

 lbs. of hay, or that 2| pounds of green corn fodder equals 1 lb. 

 of hay. We want to know something further about it. We 

 want to know, for example, how this kind of feed will operate 

 on a stock of milch cows, by increasing the quantity, or im- 

 proving the quality, of their milk. In the vicinity of a dense 

 population,, supplying the market with milk is one of the best 

 applications of the produce of the farm. Many expedients are 

 adopted, to furnish food, when the ordinary supplies are cut 

 off; as, when the pasture lands are parched with drought, in 

 August and September, Perhaps no one auxiliary has come 

 into more general use, than green corn-stalks, cultivated for this 

 purpose, after the crop of grass has been gathered. Why is 

 this done ? Has any one made certain the fact, by experiment, 

 that this kind of feed does actually increase the quantity of 

 milk, to any considerable extent? The experience of some of 

 the committee, in distributing several tons of this kind of fod- 

 der to a drove of thirty or forty cows, daily, for several succes- 

 sive years, during the season of its production, has left great 

 doubts of its value ; especially, in increasing the quantity of 

 milk. This crop is abundant, and very easily grown. It is 



