FOOD OF THE COW. 



21 



We have now to refer to the more exact, but shorter 

 experiments of scientific men. Those of Boussingault, on 

 his farm at Bechelbronn, in one case lasted over eight 

 successive weeks, and in another over four successive 

 weeks, with the following results : The foods given are 

 named in the first column, the daily ration of the several 

 foods being calculated according to a recognised table of 

 equivalents, as equal in every case to 33 Ibs. of hay. 



It seems plain that the results of the first series, as indicated 

 by the diminished yield of the cow on hay, were vitiated by 

 the general diminished productiveness of the animal with 

 the lapse of time. 



Another elaborate series of experiments on this subject 

 was published by Dr. K. D. Thomson, who many years ago 

 compared the effect of barley, malt, barley and molasses, 

 barley and linseed, and bean-meal, in their effects on the 

 quantity and quality of the milk yielded by two cows on 

 these diets respectively, during successive periods, generally 

 of 10 or 15 days. The following results are condensed 



