Proceedings of the Farmers' Club. 531 



damp, and before tlie leaves dried, and put into cocks, where it usu- 

 ally lay from four to five days, oftener a week ; and when carted the 

 oocks were moved for an hour or two before being taken up. He 

 usually filled the mow at one time, because the condensation of the 

 vapors at the top of the mow always made a bad streak in the hay, 

 unless we put dry straw on top to absorb it. Some one suggested 

 salting, but the reporter thinks the practice very injurious to stock, 

 especially sheep, by creating an artificial thirst in cold weather. 



Cutting up ok Chopping the Food of JSTeat Cattle. 

 Mr. Lucius Libby, Saco, Maine. — Several weeks ago the question 

 of cutting hay for horses was brought up and discussed by the club, 

 upon which, of course, various views and opinions were expressed, 

 and because there were those present who doubted the wisdom and 

 economy of the practice. The American Aginculturist of December 

 says : "■ Those who have thought us severe in our criticisms on the 

 Farmers' Club, are referred to the following extracts of the reports :" 

 (Here follows the remarks of Mr. Quinn.) " What would an English 

 farmer think of us were he to step into the club, and find us gravely 

 discussing the propriety of cutting food for annuals, and Gamaliel 

 and all the doctors of the law thundering their anathemas against 

 hay-cutters, &c." Mr. Quinn evidently considered this a " settler " of 

 the question, but good authority may be cited to confirm the opposite 

 view. Thomas S. Lang, Esq., of North Yassalboro, Maine, of whom you 

 may learn something by referring to report of Department of Agri- 

 culture for IS 64, page 157, has made several thorough and careful 

 trials in keeping horses uj^on cut and uncut feed, and has become 

 satisfied that dry hay and dry grain is better for them than cut and 

 mixed feed ; it is more natural for them to masticate their own food ; 

 they perform it more thoroughly, and keep in better condition than 

 by any other system of feeding. Physiologists whose books I liave 

 read agree in the opinion that human beings should eat slowly, and 

 should not drink with their meals, in order to give the salivary 

 glands time to act, so that the food may become mixed with saliva, 

 as nature designed. Does not this principle hold good, in a measure, 

 with horses ? Is not the practice of cutting hay and wetting it, and 

 mixing it with meal, in order that horses may "bolt" it down with 

 very little chewing and in a very little time, somewhat like that in 

 which human animals indulge when they eat their dinners iij five or 

 ten minutes, washing their food down with hot tea or coff'ee, to save 



