532 Transactions of tue American Institute. 



the time and trouble of chewing ? And in my opinion the evil con- 

 sequences in both cases manifest themselves sooner or later by impaired' 

 digestive organs and diseased constitutions. If a practice prevails' 

 among certain farmers across the ocean, it is no reason why others 

 may not inquire and investigate for themselves ; and were Thomas S. 

 Lang a member of the club, and engaged in " gravely discussing." ' 

 the question under consideration, he would not be utterly dumb- 

 founded if the English farmer aforesaid were to step in upon him 

 unawares. 



Mr. P. T. Quinn, — Since my remarks are thus openly challenged 

 I will take occasion to reply as openly, but not to-day. I will collect 

 a mass of facts and give them to the club in a paper to be read in two- 

 weeks from to-day. I am sure I can array such experiences as will" 

 persuade even Thomas S. Lang, although he has had the high distinc- 

 tion of writing an agricultural essay for government, that true; 

 economy and regard for the greatest efficiency and comfort of laboring 

 stock, milch cows, and fattening animals, requires us to cut their food.. 

 We all know that the best beef is not that of wild cattle. The gen- 

 tleman talks of its being natural to all animals to masticate their own 

 food. Man, in a state of nature, is naked ; but I notice we are all so- 

 artificial as to come here well wrapped in overcoats and furs this cold 

 day. Why isn't it natural to eat raw potatoes ? But theorizing is.' 

 just what we don't want on this subject, and I will give my views not 

 as opinions, but as facts. 



Dr. J. Y. C. Smith. — ^While I greatly respect our fi'iend as a farmer 

 and as a cultivated and thoughtful man, I must say that science does 

 not sustain him. All the gramnivora have a long intestinal canal. 

 They have a set of stomachs, they have salivary glands, all of which 

 would be comparatively useless, unless their food were taken slowly 

 and ground between their own molars. I believe I will bring here 

 the maw of a sheep or the paunch of a cow ; and by showing gentle- 

 men the labyrinthian convolutions, the honey-comb appearance, and 

 the curious formation by which the food is tossed, so to speak, from 

 side to side of the intestinal canbl, I am sure this body will be 

 convinced that hay-cutters are a nuisance, that they debauch and 

 disorder the entrails of our cattle. 



Mr. W. S. Carpenter. — While I admire the scientific knowledge of 

 our friend. Dr. Smith, I must say that no array of cows' paunches 

 will convince me or any other practical farmer that hay-cutters are 

 useless. Theory will not persuade a man who has tried cutting his 



