151 



CHAPTER XIII 



FEEDING (CONTINUED). 



8oiling cattle, or feeding with green food. Shelter in winter ne- 

 cessary: its influence on the economy of food. Effects of ex- 

 ercise, of close confinement, of warmth. Of cat and cooked 

 food; reasons for their efficacy. Linseed jelly. Soured food; 

 probable change which takes place in souring. Differences in 

 manures from different classes of animals : from the young 

 animal; from the milch cow ; from full grown, and from fat- 

 tening animals. Effect of feeding various classes in deterio- 

 rating pastures. 



SECTION I. ON THE SOILING OF STOCK. 



The practice of feeding various crops to cattle, 

 while they are green ; or of soiling, as it is otherwise 

 termed, has excited some attention of late years, and 

 it is therefore proper to devote a few words to it here. 

 The advocates of such a course contend : 1. That the 

 food from an acre goes farther; 2. That the animals 

 thrive better; 3. That their manure is more perfectly 

 preserved. 



a. This latter position is unquestionably a true one; 

 the manure being under cover, is not exposed to eva- 

 poration or washing, and is without doubt not only 

 more valuable, but is retained in greater bulk. 



b. It is probably true, also, that the green food from 

 an acre goes much farther than the same amount would 

 do when dried. I suppose that it is impossible to 

 make hay or fodder from any green crops, without to 

 a considerable degree changing their composition, 

 thus rendering them, to a certain extent, hard and in- 

 digestible; some parts, which before were soluble, 

 becoming in drying nearly insoluble 



