MANURE ON DAIRY-FARMS. 113 



stomach of a cow may not allow her to eat nine tons of hay a year , 

 but it will allow her to eat six tons ; and if these six tons contain 

 as much nutriment as the nine tons, what is the real difference in 

 its value ? Ordinarily we should probably estimate the one at 

 $10 per ton, and the other at $15. But according to the above 

 figures, one is worth $10 per ton and the other $27. To get rich 

 grass, therefore, should be the aim of the American dairyman. I 

 hope the Deacon begins to see what connection this has with a 

 large pile of rich manure, 



I do not mean merely a heavy growth of grass, but grass con- 

 taining a high percentage of . nutriment. Our long winters and 

 heavy snows are a great advantage to us in this respect. Our 

 grass in the spring, after its long rest, ought to start up like aspara- 

 gus, and, under the organizing influence of our clear skies, and 

 powerful sun, ought to be exceedingly nutritious. Comparatively 

 few farmers, however, live up to their privileges in this respect. 

 Our climate is better than our farming, the sun richer than our 

 neglected soil. England may be able to produce more grass per 

 acre in a year than we can, but we ought to produce richer grass, 

 and, consequently, more cheese to a cow. And I believe, in fact, 

 that such is often the case. The English dairyman has the advan- 

 tage of a longer season of growth. We have a shorter season but 

 a brighter sun, and if we do not have richer grass it is due to the 

 want of draining, clean culture, and manuring. The object of 

 American dairymen should be, not only to obtain more grass per 

 acre, but to increase its nutriment in a given bulk. If we could 

 increase it one-half, making six tons equal to nine tons, we have 

 shown that it is nearly three times as valuable. Whether this can 

 be done, I have not now time to consider ; but at any rate if your 

 land produces as many weeds as do some fields on my farm, not 

 to say the Deacon's, and if the plant-food that these weeds absorb, 

 could be organized by nutritious grasses, this alone would do a 

 good deal towards accomplishing the object. Whether this can be 

 done or not, we want cows that can eat and turn to good account 

 as much food per annum as is contained in nine tons of ordinary 

 meadow-hay ; and we want this nutriment in a bulk not exceeding 

 six tons of hay. If possible, we should get this amount of nutri- 

 ment in grass or hay. But if we can not do this, we must feed 

 enough concentrated food to bring it up to the desired standard. 



" But will it pay ? " asked the Deacon ; " I have not much faith 

 in buying feed. A farmer ought to raise everything he feeds out. '' 



