490 FEEDING ANIMALS. 



experiments (those of the Shakers of Lebanon, N. Y., 

 Thomas Edge, Prof. Miles, of the Michigan Agricultural 

 College, and J. B. Lawes), showing that raw meal will make 

 12 pounds ; five experiments to show that boiled corn will 

 make 13% pounds ; and ten cases to prove that boiled meal 

 will make 16K pounds of live pork. But although these 

 experiments do prove these conclusions, we cannot expect 

 that common feeding will reach these averages. All these 

 experiments are tried by more than ordinarily accurate and 

 enterprising farmers ; and we should cut down the aver- 

 ages as follows : By good management, the general 

 feeder may reach, with raw corn, 8 pounds ; with raw meal, 

 10 pounds; with boiled corn, 12 pounds, and with boiled 

 meal, 15 pounds of live pork, per bushel. 



There would not be so much difference between boiled 

 corn and meal, if the corn were boiled long enough, or 

 steamed under pressure, so as to burst the kernel and break 

 all the starch grains ; but it is not generally so thoroughly 

 cooked as to effect this. The skin or rind of grain is very 

 tough, and intended by nature to protect the interior or 

 more nutritious part of the seed. "When this rind is broken 

 and ground to powder, the action of heat is made more 

 rapid and effectual in bursting all the grains of starch, and 

 in rendering it all digestible by the ordinary action of the 

 animal stomach. 



WILL IT PAT TO COOK FOE HOGS ? 



The answer to this question must depend wholly upon 

 circumstances. The statement of experiments, showing 

 what may be expected from the effect of cooking, will en- 

 able anyone to determine this question for himself. It will 

 not pay to cook for a small number of pigs, because the 

 cost of labor, fuel and apparatus will be more than the gain, 

 It will cost as much labor to cook for ten pigs, with a small 

 apparatus, as for fifty to one hundred with such an appara- 



