250 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



sive spcecli, Vfh'ich. was received with marks of approbation by tbe large 

 number of persons of botb sexes present. 



BEST WINTER FEED FOR CATTLE. 



This question being called up, Mr. Gale, a farmer, formerly of Orange 

 county, said that his plan was to feed his cattle early in the morning with 

 the coarsest fodder. In stormy weather I feed the best of hay. There is 

 no one sort of fodder that will keep a herd of cattle so well as a great 

 variety of food, the greater the better. I feed my stock four or five times 

 a day, making it a law to feed often and a little at a time. I would like to 

 change the feed every day. On some pleasant days I feed nothing but the 

 coarsest food. I feed my horses good hay all the time. 



Prof. Nash. — The grand secret of feeding cattle is to give a great variety 

 of food — as great as possible. Make your arrangements in summer to have 

 a variety to feed with in winter. You may give your stock poor food for 

 a few days without injmry, but you cannot continue such food for any con- 

 siderable time without serious detriment. The general principle should be 

 to give an animal a morsel of very good food every day. They will then eat 

 up your rye straw, pea-vines and other stuflf, because they are all the time 

 healthy. 



The Secretary said that he had always been accustomed to a garden, and 

 had laboured as hard as any man, and the result was as it is with all strong, 

 hard working men — that strong food was necessary. I could not do a hard 

 day's work by feeding on such light, unsubstantial food as chickens, tur- 

 kies, birds, &c.; I required por7{, beef, turnips aiid cabbages. 



Mr. Thurber. — I used to put coarse fodder in the manger with good hay 

 on top. They will then eat the hay first, and afterward the straw. In the 

 morning I fed first good hay, and followed that with roots or grains, and 

 always fed hay at noon, then turned the stock out to water and exercise. 

 The refuse food I saved, and afterward sprinkled with brine, and put it 

 back in the manger. 



Mr. Gale. — It is a bad plan to reserve the coarse fodder for bad weather, 

 because the cattle would then eat it for want of something else. There is 

 a vast amount of good food wasted in this State for the want of knowing 

 how to use it. I keep all my stock in stables as warm as I can make them. 

 I would not feed cattle altogether upon timothy hay, if I had it, if I could 

 get straw or other coarse food. 



Prof. Nash thought the value of the fodder crop the greatest of all in 

 the country. 



Mr. Provoost gave his experience in favor of cooking food, and also of 

 the high value that should be placed upon corn stalks. 



Subjects for next meeting, — " The best food for eattle in winter." 

 " Subsoil plowing and draining." " Insects destructive to crops." 



Adjourned to November 7th, 1859. 



H. MEIGS, Secretary. 



