154 Transactions of tub American Institute. 



in winter, and will fatten rapidly wlien fed for that purpose. There is 

 more profit in feeding two medium-sized animals, on a pasture fitted 

 for them only, than there is in half-feeding a large one on the same 

 pasture. In all feeding, other than grazing, we should also feed for a 

 definite object. Young animals intended for the dairy should be fed 

 with reference to that alone, and in such a way as not to injure the 

 lacteal system. Their food should be oatmeal, Swedish turnips and 

 rowen hay. And through life they should be fed upon such articles, 

 and not upon the oleaginous grains, such as Indian corn, and cotton 

 seeds, and oil-cake. Young animals intended for beef should be 

 furnished with an abundance of fat-producing food from the start, and 

 in this way will their nutritive functions be directed steadily to this 

 object. Feed them for a definite purpose. In this way alone can 

 the true economy of feeding be arrived at. The waste of hay, roots 

 and grain in this country is enormous, solely on account of an inju- 

 dicious selection of animals to be fed. We know, or ought to know, 

 that a hundred pounds of food fed to one animal is worth much more 

 than a hundred pounds of food fed to another animal ; but we do not 

 always profit by our knowledge. The producer of milk, for instance, 

 may make thirty per cent more milk from his store of hay, roots and 

 grain, fed to one class of cows then he can when it is fed to another. 

 And we shall never feed as profitably as we may, until we have over- 

 come our prejudices, and select our cattle with special reference to a- 

 given object, and not to gratity an idle fancy. The neglect of this 

 rule is one of the most formidable obstacles now in the way of suc- 

 cessful farming. 



Ckops. 

 There is still too great indiiference to the crops raised on our farms, 

 and to their location and modes of cultivation. The wholesale 

 orcharding of our ancestors must be abandoned. Fruit culture has 

 become more a matter of horticulture than agriculture. The growing 

 of apples should be confined to lands unfitted for other purposes both 

 by quality and location — such as ledgy hillsides, abounding in mine- 

 ral deposits and deficient in clay and vegetable mould. No man can 

 afibrd to have his fertile fields lying near his farm buildings occupied 

 by orchards. His manure is easily transported thither, and his 

 annual crops should grow as near home as possible ; for from these 

 comes his constant profit. Wliat I saj of orcharding does not apply 

 of course to the smaller fruits which come within tlie list of annual 

 crops, and commence their returns shortly after planting. But 



