ANIMALS AND THEIR PRODUCTS. 123 



Milch cows should have more juicy, succulent food ; 

 and fattening animals should be spared all labor, even 

 that of chewing tough food. They should be treated 

 to oily food ; and it should be of kinds that are easily 

 digested ; and they should be kept as quiet as possible. 

 The passage to their stall should be by an easy ascent, 

 so as to require little exertion in going in and out. 

 The keeper should never strike them, nor even threaten 

 a blow, nor in any way alarm them. Some have sup- 

 posed, and I think with much reason, that they are 

 more dormant, more perfectly at ease, and will fatten 

 faster, if their stall is somewhat dark. Darkness pro- 

 motes sleep ; sleep favors digestion ; and the more per- 

 fect their digestion, thelarger proportion of their food 

 will be laid over and through their frames in the form 

 of fat. 



219. Eye is of about the same weight as corn ; con 

 tains more sugar and gum than corn, but less nitroge- 

 nous matters ; and not more than one-third as much oil. 

 Where growth only is the object of feeding, as with 

 young cattle and shotes ; also where labor only is 

 desired, as with the horse ; and where labor and growth 

 are both sought in the same animal, as with young 

 working oxen, rye may advantageously form a part of 

 the feed, if the price be not higher than that of corn. 

 The composition of rye would lead to the conclusion, 

 that if given to milch cows, it would produce as much 

 milk as corn, and possibly more, but that the milk 

 would be of inferior quality, and would not make as 

 much nor as good butter or cheese. Its fattening pro- 

 perties are small. For the purpose of making beef, 



