particular advantage that the results obtaiued, by a careful mode ot 

 observation might find a direct application to a still quite numerous 

 class of cows on our farms, which are not infrequently assumed to 

 be of but little merit from an economical standpoint. It is our inten- 

 tion to publish as soon as practicable a statement concerning the 

 annual yield of milk of some of our cows at present on trial, and 

 also the net cost of its j)roduction as far as tlie leed is concerned, to 

 show more plainly the annual profits of keeping cows of moderate 

 milking qualities. 



The daily diet of the cows consisted at the beginning of the exper- 

 iments of three and one-quarter pounds of corn meal, an equal weight 

 of wheat bran and all the hay they could eat. The actual amount of 

 hay consumed, in each casQ, was ascertained by daily weighing out 

 a liberal supply of it and deducting subsequently the hayleft ovei'. 



The statement in our records below refers to the average consump- 

 tion of hay per day during the feeding period. 



The above-stated combination of fodder articles was adopted as 

 the basis of our investigation, mainly for the reason that it had been 

 used with satisfactory results in some of our earlier feeding experi- 

 ments, and not on the assumption of its being the best possible com- 

 bination of fodder articles for milch cows. The weights of the ani- 

 mals were taken on the same day of each week, before milking and 

 feeding. 



The valuation of the various fodder articles consumed is based on 

 the local market price per ton. when used : Good English hay, $15 ; 

 corn meal, $23 ; wheat bran, $20 ; gluten meal, $23 ; rye mid- 

 dlings, $24; dry corn fodder (stover) $5; corn ensilage, $2.75: 

 carrots, $7. 



The value of a fodder for dairy ptivposes may be stated from txm 

 distinctly different standpoints, — namely, with reference to ite liiflu- 

 ence on the temporary yield of milk, and the general condition of the 

 animals which consume it; and in regard to its first cost, i. e., its 

 physiological and commercial value. 



The market value and the actual feeding effect'of one and the same 

 article do not necessarily correspond with each other ; in fact, the}' 

 rarely coincide. 



The market vcdue may be stated for each locality by ove definite 

 number. The feeding effect of one and the same substance, simple or 

 compound, varies under different circumstances , and depends in a 

 controlling degree on its judicious use. 



