474 Traxsactioxs of tub Amebic ax Ixstitute. 



nisli food for the 3'ouTig plant, is virtually embalmed. A little obser- 

 vation -will satisfy any one on this point. . In any wooded country 

 there are more or less " cradle knolls," especially on new land, and 

 vegetation, no matter of M'hat kind, is much less on those than it is 

 elsewhere. But I tliink that it is impossible to establish a uniform 

 rule. Plowing should vary somewhat according to circumstances. 

 Dr. Isaac P. Trimble. — That letter, Mr. Chairman, is, in my esti- 

 mation, more valuable than anything Mr. Fuller has said here on the 

 same subject for ten years. I am going to take the pains to write 

 out something which will, I hope, have influence in saving the people 

 from this sad and harmful delusion of plowing deep. 



Gkouxd Hay for Cattle Feed. 



Mr. Joseph S. Kirk, Pittsburg, Pa., writes : " For some time past 

 I have been making observations and experiments in animals' food, 

 and obtaining what I believe to be an improvement, and I take the 

 liberty of communicating to your Club the results. Grass being the 

 natural food for live stock, it is easily and properly masticated, and 

 as a consequence, its nutrition is e^,sily extracted. With hay, how- 

 ever, the case is different, for when fed in sufficient quantities the 

 animal, especially if its teeth have become flattened by age, attempts 

 to satisfy itself by selecting the leaves and tender branches \m obvi- 

 ate this difficulty, and prevent waste. Cutting hay in short lengths 

 has, to an extent, become general, and is, no doubt, a step in the 

 right direction. My belief is, that we should go still further, and 

 grind the hay as we now grind oats and corn. It is thought that 

 owing to its glutinous nature, hay could not- be reduced to a state of 

 meal ; or, if so reduced, the expense attending would not justify. 

 To test this I constructed a cutter and crusher on new principles, and 

 the result was beyond my most sanguine expectations. Ten tons a 

 day can be ground with one machine, at a cost not to exceed one 

 dollar per ton. Ground in this manner hay is not unlike ground 

 oats, save in color, its weight being from thirty-two to thirty-six lbs. 

 per bushel. Mixed with chapped feed, such as corn or oats, it makes 

 a chea]) and excellent food. Thus we effect by mechanical means 

 what the hard-working or decrepid animal is incapable of doing, 

 perfect mastication. 



Lime foe WniTEWAsiiiNG. 



Mr. J. B. Saunders, Flora, 111. — An opinion prevails that air-slaked 

 lime is not as good for whitewashing purposes as water-slaked. Is 



