350 CATTLE AND DAIKY FAEMING. 



coarse wisp of straw, an operation supposed to be specially agreeable 

 to the animal, and thus to improve his appetite and digestion. The 

 story is told of an illiterate proprietor, noted for his excellent products, 

 often found in his stable extended between a pair of beeves and indus- 

 triously scratching their backs to excite their appetites. 



Together with, or in substitution for, the liriseed-cake, the refuse of 

 various other oily plants is used, especially the colza, said to be very 

 nearly equal to linseed as food for cattle. Other plants of the same na- 

 ture are hemp, poppy, cotton, sesame, &c. ; they are all valuable for 

 manure and often so used. It is asserted that after serving as food 

 for animals they are no less useful, the fertilizing elements passing 

 through the animal after serving their purpose of nutrition. (Liebig.) 

 Little or no recourse is made to roots for cattle-feeding in this district, 

 and the extremely scanty production would hardly furnish the supply. 

 The linseed cake is considered equivalent as food to rather more than 

 twice its weight of hay. While the general practice of breeders gives 

 the preference to this particular plant, it is supposed that cotton seed, 

 if available, might surpass it. Mention has also been made of mulberry 

 leaves as a favorite article of food. 



Primitive ensilage. In the vine-growing districts, together with the 

 fallen vine leaves, is commonly used the refuse of the wine press, the 

 considerable residue of alcohol remaining being an excellent stimulant 

 for fattening, though injurious in ordinary food. The mode of prepara- 

 tion is as follows : A round excavation in the earth, about 2 meters 

 deep and wide, is filled with alternate layers 20 centimeters (=8 inches) 

 thick (on a bottom layer of leaves) of " graspa n or press refuse, and vine 

 and mulberry leaves, pressed down as tightly as possible, and covered 

 with a " capello " or conical mass of earth, care being taken to draw a 

 ridge of earth around the brink to prevent rain or snow from penetrat- 

 ing. The mass is then left to ferment, and watched, to fill any crevices 

 in the coyer of earth as it dries. In about forty days fermentation is 

 completed, and the product is then given to the animals, which, after a 

 first hesitation, become extravagantly fond of it, and the dose has to be 

 regulat'ed. 



FOOD ANALYSES. 



It is always observed that an animal fattens in longer or shorter time 

 according to the origin of his forage ; for instance, with the hay mowed 

 here at Bolzonella, eight months are required for full flesh ; with that 

 of Citadella, six months ; with that of Belvedere and Eosa, four months 

 suffice. 



A rough analysis of the hay grown near Citadelia gives for one hun- 

 dred parts of hay: 



Azotated substances, 8.14, or digestible matter, 58.'23. 

 Carbonated substances, 43.63, or indigestible matter, 27.18. 

 Ashes, 6.16, or water, 14.19. 



The composition of colza compared to linseed is as follows : 



