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384 STATE AGRICULTUEAL SOCIETY. 
ample, plot No. 5 was first cut June 2, yielding 5,3Y2 pounds of hay, and 
again mowed June 16, yielding 102 pounds. Total yield of plot No. 5, up to 
date of June 16, 6,4Y4 pounds; thus exhibiting, when compared with No. 7, 
not only a deficiency in average quality, but also a deficiency in quantity of 
at least 2,083 pounds. 
Deduction: Cut at the period when the clover plant contains its greatest 
proportion of nutriment, and before the ripening of the seed. A current 
agricultursil rule expresses the principle: “ Cut when one-half of the heads 
are browned.” A like principle is involved in the cutting of the other 
grasses. 
Feeding Stock. —Mr. William Birney, Springfield, Massachusetts, com¬ 
menced ten years ago the practice of cooking food for stock. The present 
winter (1868) he feeds forty-three head of neat stock, equivalent to thirty- 
four mature animals; also three working horses, three three-year-old colts, 
and three yearling colts. The food is cooked in a large steam-box, holding, 
for instance, 1,350 pounds poor average quality of hay—two-thirds bog or 
marsh hay—112 pounds wheat shorts, and 44 pounds cotton seed ; 200 gal¬ 
lons of water are poured on previous to the steaming, which takes five or six 
hours, and requires 125 pounds of coal. Steamii.g is done only twice a weeK, 
the food keeping warm three or four days in the box, even in the coldest 
weather. Twice a day the requisite quantity of material is taken from the 
box. The horses, when at work, receive four quarts of corn each per day, 
sprinkled on the steamed food. Each milch cow has also two quarts of wheat 
shorts per day. Roots fed raw are also administered. The stock is kept in 
good condition, carded and combed. The temperature of the stable is al¬ 
ways above freezing point. A statement of the cost of food is given below. 
The coal is charged to general account; were it added to the following items 
it would not increase the average daily cost to seventeen cents : 
1,350 pounds poor hay, at $12 per ton.$8 10 
112 pounds bran... 1 90 
44 pounds cotton seed meal. 99 
Total cost of steamed food for three and a half days.$10 99 
Cost for one day, steamed food... $3 14 
Extra meal for three horses, 24 pounds. 60 
Extra shorts for 20 cows, 70 pounds. 1 19 
12 bushels roots, at 16|- cents per bushel. 2 00 
170 pounds of hay, at $20 per ton. 1 70 
Daily cost of feeding 62 animals.$8 63 
Average cost, 16f cents. 
The 170 pounds of good hay is for noon lunch—four or five pounds to each 
animal, on an average. 
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