COMMUNICATIONS. 



CARE OF STOCK. 



By R. L. Pell, of Pelham, N. Y. 



The care of stock, sheep, &c., is of great importance to the agri- 

 culturist. It is the foundation of good farming, and requires more 

 attention and knowledge than any other department. Our domestic 

 animals are the machines, by means of which, hay and grass are 

 converted into silver. 



The three modes of feeding, by way of distinction are termed 

 stall feeding, soiling, and grazing. Stall-fed cattle are those which 

 live chiefly upon hay, cut straw, corn stalks, roots, grain, &c. 

 Soiled cattle are those that are kept in a place of confinement, such 

 as the straw yard, and nourished daily by green crops, cut and car- 

 ried to them. Grazing cattle find their living in the open air, upon 

 the rich and luxuriant pastures. 1st. The farmer who practices 

 stall feeding, desires to increase the growth, and weight of his ani- 

 mal, therefore the food has two functions to perform, viz: to sustain 

 the body, and at the same time to increase it. This food then is to 

 be selected with great care as to its chemical contents. Thetanimal 

 by respiration is constantly giving off carbon to the atmosphere. 

 This carbon can be resupplied by the judicious farmer; he must use 

 a food containing sugar for this purpose. To increase the fat, he 

 may feed the bran and husks of his cereal grains, instead of the 

 meal which is customary, for the reason that the rich oily substances 

 by provident nature have been placed near the outer covering of the 

 cereals, to protect them from decay. You have often no doubt heard 

 farmers say, and have said yourselves, there can be no nourishment 

 in bran, it is so light, still you are surprised at the effect produced by 

 its use upon your stock. I am in the habit of feeding it all summer 



