272 Cattle Problems. 



action in the milk-glands, while if the fat of milk were 

 supplied ready formed, there would be no transformation 

 required in producing fat in the milk. 



Sweet feed, such as sugar cane, is not safe, because too 

 much sugar — as shown by Prof Tanner, of England — en- 

 dangers the breeding power. Experience shows that grass, 

 either green and succulent, or dried, is the best and there- 

 fore the standard milk-producing feed. Clover, from its 

 containing much nitrogenous matter, is also very good for 

 milk. Taking the composition of grass for a standard, it 

 can be readily ascertained which kinds of feed approxi- 

 mate it in their quality. Millets, if cut and cured when 

 green, may be available to increase the supply of fall and 

 winter feed. Of all the auxiliary food, corn fodder, both 

 when green, and when dry, is probably the best and most 

 economical. We have repeatedly used it green for feed- 

 ing swine in hot weather ; and cows relish it exceedingly, 

 consuming it also with avidity after it is dry. In all or- 

 dinary seasons and soils, and in most parts of this conti- 

 nent, corn fodder can be raised in abundance, and cured 

 in small shocks. And then the shocks can be made large, 

 and when well made and tied, they can stand in the field 

 all the winter, ready for use, without danger of spoiling 

 the fodder. But corn-stalk sap contains so much saccharine 

 matter that fermentation and moulding very soon occur, 

 when it is stacked or housed in much quantity ; so it is 

 best not to stack it, but to keep it in large shocks of ten 

 to fifteen bundles each in the field, in the North-western 

 States. 



In regard to quantity of yield, that quantity which can 

 be made while maintaining the strongest digestive power is 

 most economical for any cow or dairyman. 



The quantity of milk-forming ingredients, or elements, 

 in food of any kind, is limited, and cannot be increased 

 by the digestive or milk-forming processes. A certain ex- 



