13 



in so77ie instajices asJugJi as 9.91 cts. This sum, it will be noticed, is 

 three times as large as the diflereuce, due to an exceptional rise in 

 the market cost of the grain feed portion of the various daily fodder 

 rations used, accepting the ruling local market prices of feed stuff at 

 the close of 1889 and of 1890. as the basis of our valuation. 



Taking the mauurial value of the different coarse fodder constitu- 

 ents used into consideration, we find the difference of i/tfir net cost not 

 less striking, than has been shown above to be the case in regard to 

 their marlzet cost. 



Market Cost. 



Rowen, 18 pounds. 13.5 



Mixed ensilage. 44 pounds. | n 45 



Rowen. 5 pouuds. ) 

 Corn stover. 18 pounds. 4.50 



The high market price of two of our most prominent home raised 

 coarse fodder articles, first and second cut of upland meadow. English 

 hay and rowen, affects seriously the degree of our financial results 

 in the production of milk, as far as the cost of feed is concerned. 

 We are in need of a cheaper source of supply of coarse fodder 

 substances, than a considerable proportion of our grass lands, pastures 

 and meadows, in their present state of productiveness, can claim to 

 be. More satisfactory results can be obtained, no doubt, in many 

 cases by turning indifferently yielding dry grass lands, if at all 

 capable of higher cultivation, to account for the production of some 

 other suitable fodder crop, than grasses. The good services of dry 

 fodder corn, corn stover, aud a good corn ensilage, for a more 

 economical production of milk, are deservedly from day to day more 

 generally recognized. However gratifying this fact will be considered, 

 it is not advisable, in the light of past experience, in a general farm 

 management to raise one fodder crop at the exclusion of all others, 

 however lucrative at the time this practice may prove ; such course 

 can at best only offer a temporary relief. The introduction of a 

 greater variety, in particular of annual reputed fodder crops promises 

 a more permanent improvement in fodder supply. Such course 

 wherever adopted has uot only resulted in cheapening the production 

 of milk aud beef, but has proved to be a most economical way to 

 raise the general productiveness of farm lands to a higher standard. 



Our local experience with a variety of annual leguminous fodder 

 crops as vetches, serradella and soja bean has been very encour- 

 aging. The satisfactory results obtained in previous years are fully 

 confirmed during the past season, when a mixed crop of vetch and 



