314 On Soiling Cattle. 



them under a conical roller (an excellent cheap tool for 

 threshing grain crops) but found them so tough and 

 elastic, that I have been discouraged from sending a 

 load to some tanners bark- mill, though that would be 

 much more powerful, and perhaps somewhat similar to 

 the best mode of bruising whins in Ireland. Wishing 

 this fall to resume the experim*ent, in order to deter- 

 mine the full value of a good crop of corn, I beg the 

 liberty of asking whether any thing in the course of 

 your practice or reading has occurred, that would ena- 

 ble me to use them profitably as food for cattle. 



As you appear highly interested in the success of 

 soiling, it will no doubt give you pleasure to learn, that 

 I have surmounted every difficulty in the practice of 

 this summer, seven of my cattle have been sold since 

 you saw them, and there are several more that I shall 

 offer for sale in a few days, and to crown my success, 

 fortune has thrown in my way an invaluable plant. On 

 the 19th and 21st of May 1 planted a small patch of 

 Guinea corn in clusters from eight to twelve inches 

 a part, and on the 23d another with broom corn adjoin- 

 ing it; the first has been cut with the scythe twice, and 

 the second cut yielded full one-third more than the 

 first, though not so tall; this was in consequence of the 

 great increase of suckers: it bids fair for a third crop 

 unless too little heat, or an early frost should affect its 

 growth. The other patch consisting of broom and 

 Guinea, was not cut till about five feet high, the plants 

 have suckered greatly, and no doubt will produce a 

 plentiful second cut. My cattle were very fond of it, 

 but the quantity was too small to form any opinion of 

 its nutritive qualities, but those must be very consi- 



