THE CULTIVATOR. 
The following experiments are reported, either on account of having 
been accurately made, and carefully observed, or as presenting such re¬ 
sults as having been generally obtained on similar soils, from applications 
of fossil shells to nearly six hundred acres of Coggin’s Point Farm. It has 
been my habit to make written memoranda of such things; and the mate¬ 
rial circumstances of these experiments were put in writing at the time 
they occurred, or not long after. Some of the experiments w'ere, from 
their commencement, designed to be permanent, and their results to be 
measured as long as circumstances might permit. These were made with 
the utmost care. But generally when precise amounts are not stated, the 
experiments were less carefully made, and their results reported by guess 
Every measurement stated, of land or of crop, was made in my presence. 
The average strength of the manure was ascertained by a sufficient num¬ 
ber of analyses—and the quantity applied was known by measuring some 
of the loads, and having them dropped at certain distances At the risk 
of being tedious, I shall state every circumstance supposed to affect the 
results of the experiments—and the manner of description, and of refe¬ 
rence, necessary (o use, will acquire a degree of attention that few read¬ 
ers may be disposed to give, to enable them to derive the full benefit of 
these details. But how'ever disagreeable it may be to give to them the 
necessary attention, I will presume to say that these experiments deseive 
it. They will present practical proofsof what otherwise would be but un¬ 
certain theory—and give to this essay its principal claim to be considered 
useful and valuable. 
When these operations w r ere commenced, I knew of no other experi 
anents having been made with fossil shells, except two, which had been 
tried long before, and were considered as proving the manure too worth 
less to be resorted to again. Inexperience, and the total want of any 
guide, caused my applications, for the first few years, to be frequently 
injudicious, particularly as to the quantities laid on. For this reason these 
•experiments show what was actually done, and the effects thence derived, 
and not what better information would have directed, as the most profita¬ 
ble course. 
The measurements of corn that will be reported were all made at the 
time and place of gathering. The measure used for all except very small 
quantities, was a barrel holding five bushels when filled level, and which 
being twice filled wfith ears of corn, well shaken to settle them, and heap¬ 
ed, was estimated to make five bushels of grain—and the products will be 
reported in grain according to this estimate. This mode of measurement 
will best serve for comparing results—but in most cases it is far from giv¬ 
ing correctly the actual quantity of dry and sound grain, for the following 
reasons. The common large soft grained white corn was the kind culti¬ 
vated, and which was always cut down for sowing wheat before the best 
matured was dry enough to grind, or even to put up in cribs; and when 
the ears from the poorest land were in a state to lose considerably more 
by shrinking. Yet for fear of some mistake occurring if measurements 
were delayed until the crop was gathered, these experiments were mea¬ 
sured when the land was ploughed for wheat in October. The subse¬ 
quent loss from shrinking would of course be greatest on the com from 
the poorest and most backward land, as there, most defective and unripe 
cars would always be found. Besides, every ear, however imperfect or 
rotten, was included in the measurement. For these several reasons, the 
actual increase of product on the marl land, was always greater than will ap¬ 
pear from the comparison of quantities measured; and from the statements 
of all such early measurements, there ought to be allowed adeduction, va¬ 
rying from ten per cent on the best and most forward corn, to thirty per 
cent on the latest and most defective. Having stated the grounds of this 
cular experiments will be hereafter stated. 
No grazing has been permitted on any land from which expel 
be reported, unless it is specially stated.— [To be continued.'] 
THE CULTIVATOR—SEPT. 1835. 
TO IMPROVE THE SOIL AND THE MIND. 
ON THE UTILITY AND BEST METHOD OF COOKING 
FOOD FOR DOMESTIC ANIMALS. 
This subject has engaged the attention of practical men in Eu¬ 
rope and in this country for many years, and it is a branch of rural 
economy at all times worthy the careful investigation of the farmer. 
The Highland Society of Scotland have, in a particular manner, 
directed the public attention to the comparative advantages of 
feeding farmstock with prepared or unprepared food, and have, 
by liberal premiums, induced numerous experiments to be accu¬ 
rately made, and elicited much valuable information. The con¬ 
clusions which have been drawn from these and other experiments, 
seem to be,— 
1. That a great saving, some say one-half or more, is effected 
Vol. II. 12 
by cutting the dry fodder for horses and neat cattle, and feeding 
it with their provender or grain, in two or three daily messes, in 
mangers. Not that the food is thereby enhanced in its inherent 
properties, but that given in this way it all tells—is all consumed, 
all digested, all converted into nutriment. There is comparatively 
none wasted, or voided, without having benefitted the animal. In 
the ordinary mode of feeding in racks, yards, and in open fields 
at stacks, it is well known that much is lost, from the difficulty of 
masticating uncut hay, straw and stalks, and from its being trod¬ 
den under the feet of animals and spoilt. Much labor is besides 
saved to the animal, as cut food requires less mastication, and the 
animal enjoys a longer period of rest. 
2. That grain and pulse, as cattle food, is enhanced in value by 
being ground or bruised before it is fed out, so much as to war- 1 
rant the expense of sending it to mill, and the deduction of toll. 
Indian corn, oats, rye, and other grain, given to farm animals in 
a dry, unbroken state, it must have been observed by every one, 
particularly when the animal is high fed, are often voided in a 
half or wholly undigested state, and are virtually lost. This does 
not happen when the grain has been ground. 
3. That although roots, as ruta baga, mangel wurzel and pota¬ 
toes, are improved as fattening materials for neat cattle, by cook¬ 
ing, the advantages hardly counterbalance the extra expense of 
labor and fuel. 
4. That for working horses, cooking the roots we have enume¬ 
rated, and feeding them with cut hay and straw, is of manifest ad¬ 
vantage ; and that thus fed they supersede the necessity of grain. 
5. That in fattening hogs, there is decided economy in grinding 
and cooking the food. The experiments upon this subject are 
many and conclusive. Some estimate the saving at one-half the 
quantity of food. Taking into account the various materials on a 
farm, which may thus be turned to account, we are satisfied that 
one-half the cost of making pork may in this way be saved.— 
Swine are voracious animals, and will eat more than their sto¬ 
machs can digest, unless assisted by the cooking process. There 
are upon the farm may refuse matters, as pumpkins, squashes, 
small potatoes, early and defective apples and apple pomace, 
which are of little value, except as hog food, but which, if well 
husbanded, cooked and mixed with ground provender, contribute 
essentially to cheapen our pork. It has been questioned whether 
the articles we have enumerated are nutritive to pigs, when given 
in their raw state ; while all admit, who have made the experi¬ 
ment, that they are highly so when cooked. Cooking undoubt¬ 
edly adds to their nutritive properties, as it does to the nutritive 
properties of Indian meal. 
Before we offer our views of the most economical mode of cook¬ 
ing food for hogs, and of the apparatus to be employed, we beg 
leave to submit the plan of a hog-pen or piggery, which, with 
some modifications, is the model of one we examined at the Shaker 
village in Niskayuna. 
1 . 
D 
Fig. 
Fig. 1, exhibits a 
ground plain of the 
building, showing a 
gangway in the cen¬ 
tre, with a range of 
pens on each side.— 
The breadth is 26 feet, 
and the length may 
be adapted to the con¬ 
venience of the build¬ 
er. The pens are six 
feet broad and ten 
feet deep, with a cross 
partition 4 feet from 
the rear, and a four 
feet door, which is 
used to close the pas¬ 
sage between the front department (a) and the department b, or 
to extend the partition between the pens. The different uses of 
the doors are shown on the two sides in the cut. The pens are 
calculated for four hogs each, and the section here exhibited will 
therefore accommodate 24. When the pens require to be cleaned, 
the doors are shut into the cross partitions, as at A, so that the 
rear presents an uninterrupted passage, the hogs being confined 
in a a; and as soon as the pens are cleared, these doors are thrown 
back as at B. The troughs are embraced in the gangway. 
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