Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1845-08-28
rroNoMrrAL HINTS.

We evtract tho following sensible article from
an old naner of 1916 It contains suggestions that
will be found useful to farmers especially when
the crops are short-Boston Journal
Retnedy for Scarcit.-As the present scarcity
of grain produces serious distress among the poor
or class of people, and what is almost as Palnlul'
much greater wants among the domestic ahi'no's'
it becomes object of great Importance 10 ui.l,'n
ish the consumption, and to increase inc
of that consumed. Proper attention 70 tle ouoJeo'
most certainly will reduce the use OF glan omo
half of the present quantity; ana II peh9oVeS e'o-
nv man in GOOD circumstances, to attend 10 IL, III
order that there NAV be more for market. ii eve
nv one will seriously carry into operation the plan
/ have TO propose for feeding, the price OF grain
will be SO reduced, that the poor Will be supplied
on moderate terms half starved cows and horses
will pass a comfortable winter; and some OF the
vile sharpers specializing in articles of the first ne
cessity will be disappointed in their PROJECT OF rat
tening on the necessities of the needy.
A most important point is, to suffer no animal to
grain in its natural state 1t should all go through
the hands of the miller and the cook. Inc NE OF
the grain ressts the action Of the stomach so long,
that it passes into the bowels before decomposed ;
and thence, in like condition, is expelled. Three
quarts of oats or corn, ground fine, will yield more
nourshment than three gallons not ground. This
may be true in cases Of horses. And, of as much
Importance as grinding, is boiling the food with
water so as to make thin mush This mush;
two be preferred by tho animal 10 any other diet
One gallon of meal, added to two gallons OF boil
ing water and if not boiled with hay or straw,
(which would be best) poured on it and stirred up
and given at night, will, with the AID OF lltte nay
in the day. preserve any horse or COW III good Or
der This mixture or mush, ought by all means,
to be boiled a few minutes, otherwise put NIUE
GOOD will be done. This is confirmed by the fol :
lowing experiment, repeatedly made IN England.
A man, confined to given quantity OF raw mate
rails with abundance Of water, would gradually de-
cline in flesh but with the same quantity of raw
materials made into soup, would continue in good
condition. The union of the water with the food
by boiling, is like that in vegetation: IT becomes
component part, and is converted into nourlshment
for the body if not chemically united Whether
this reasoning be convincing or not, matters but
little since those to whom it is not satisfactory may
rely upon the fact, that boiling meal before adding
it to straw or hay, will make 1t go twice as far in
the support of their stock. Surely for such an ad-
vantage so easily obtained, every one ought to get
over the natural Incidence and common aversion
to deviate from old habits.
Another considerable saving well worth attention
will be made by giving the animals all their meal
food before dusk and without hay during the night.
By eating the meal food at night their stomachs
convert the whole of it into nourishment. Grain
given to animals in the daytime, when in exercise,
is Of little use as it passes through them undgest-
ed, Hay in the day and grain at night, is the bet
ter practice, both Tor the owner and the BRUTE
Giving hay at night, really INJURIES animals that are
worked in the ay-time, by keeping them awake to
feed, when they demand rest.
The last point have to press, N the economizng
OF food, is the necessity of keeping stock tce she
tered that is, securing to them the benefit of theil
warmth. 1t is a truth, indeed, that during
their exposure to the irregularities of the season.
they require twice the ordinary food for their
shment and stimulation and are sub ect to ten times
as many fatal disorders they otherwise would be.
Man, their master, has taken them from state
where nature supplied their wants: and If he be
not too much of brute to feel for their hardships,
he ought to be so much of man as to supply what
his interests dictate, requital to the animal for
its loss of what nature designed for its welfare.
If by this plan of grinding and boiling the food
of animals, the half of the grain be saved i'll the
country, as most certainly it may there will be lit
tie occasion for pressing the extension Of the prn
cipe to man, by advising the eating of mttsh in
stead of bread, and soup instead Of meat;
THOMAS EwELL
Georgetotcn, Dec. 8, lSl6.