EXPERIMENTS. 



17 



And since by experimenting much useful knowledge is 

 yet to be attained, permit us here to suggest the pro- 

 priety of offering larger premiums for experiments, as 

 the small sums heretofore offered have not been an 

 inducement for competition, for the Yankee reason, 

 " that we are not sure that it will pay." But in con- 

 clusion your Committee recommend a gratuity of $4 

 (equal to the first premium) to be paid to John Brooks^, 

 Jr., of Princeton, for his experiment in feeding stock. 

 All of which is respectfully submitted, 



THOMAS BILLINGS, Chairman,- 



JOHN BROOKS, JR'S STATEMENT. 

 FEEDING DEVONS AND AYRSHIRES. 



Last winter, having some leisure time^ I thought ! 

 would try some experiments ; among them is the follow-- 

 ing, in feeding neat stock, showing the difference in the* 

 expense of keeping Devons and Ayrshires. I find 

 considerable difference, viz: 100 lbs. live weight of 

 Devons eat 2/00 lbs. of hay daily; 100 lbs. live weight 

 of Ayrshires eat 1% lbs. of hay daily \ {^ lbs. or more- 

 than one-third more than the Devons. 



The stock I fed were four last season'"s calves, two 

 Ayrshires and two Devons, one year old this spring, 

 very near the same age, and were fed alike in every 

 particular. They were fed two different times, ten' 

 days at each time. I weighed the cattle every day^ 

 also the hay that they consumed. 



The ]>evons gained in flesh the first ten days, 34 lbs. 



The Ayrshii-es " " *' " 20 " 



The Devons ** *" second " 29 " 



The Ayrshires *"* *' *' " 20 " 



