ANIMALS AND THEIR PRODUCTS. 119 



morning, will not, and probably cannot, swallow dry 

 straw, nor bay tbat is nearly as dry. 



211. According to an analysis by Prof. Norton, In- 

 dian corn contains 12 per cent, of water, 40 of starcb, 

 6 of gum and sugar, 17 of nitrogenous substances, 9 

 of oil, 14 of woody fibre, and 2 of ash. The ash of 

 corn is rich in phosphate of lime. This renders it 

 valuable for milch cows. It will be observed that 

 corn gives about three times as high a per cent, of oil 

 as good hay. It would probably yield ten times 

 more oil than the poorest quality of hay. This ren- 

 ders it valuable for fattening purposes. With the ex- 

 ception of oil-cake, an article not much used of late 

 years in our country, though used extensively in Eng- 

 land, corn is the most fattening feed that we have. 

 It is to be given freely to fattening cattle and swine. 

 If given to milch cows, its tendency is not so much 

 to increase the quantity of milk as to improve the 

 quality. 



212. A little corn-meal fed to milch cows daily in 

 connection with fine, early-cut hay, or, what is equally 

 good, if it can be obtained, with bright, well-cured 

 rowen, gives the milk great richness. One quart of 

 such milk is worth at least three quarts of milk from 

 cows fed on mouldy hay and slops. Whether corn 

 should be given to horses is a matter about which 

 opinions differ. Some teamsters prefer it to anything 

 else. The oat, however, seems to be natural to the 

 horse. Ilorses fed on clean hay and oats seem to feel 



