Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1853-01-29
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From the Maine Farmer.
Scientific stock Feeding

Scientific stock Feeding.
(By science here is meant the Substitution, Of
refined common sense for vague prejudice or err
roneous habits.)
This subject embraces fixtures, food, and man.
ner offeedng. | propose to give infinitely, NV
present form, that my brother farmers may COM
pare notes, and benefit themselves by any valua-
Die suggestion here presented, to elicit from
them better method.
FIrst-Firturcs My barn is &c by so feet,
Is ieet posts, and feet cellar On the back
side ls 10 feet shed, closing with the barn under
ihe water gutter, with the extension of wing 20
by 30 feet, the cellar Of which is used for a ma
nure factory, with vat next the main cellar,
which receives all the liquor illrating from all nv
yarding grounds.
On the front side of the barn, is a she'd IA feet,
with wing at right angles with that at the oppo-
site corner, Is by 30 feet under which is nv root
cellar, holding 1000 bushels, with the steaming
apparatus next to the barn; all of which is double
boarded or clapboarded, with u glass windows of
different sizes, TO light the several apartments
and cellar under the whole
The feeding floor occupies twelve by thirty
ieet OF the centre of the entrance at the eud,
leaving twenty feet bay at the head of the
hoor; the cows standing on each side of the floor
The first 20 feet overhead is a scaiiod, the
centre 10 feet on the same level is The floor on
which the hay is hauled in by an entrance in the
centre of the front side forming 20 #. bay on
the other side of the floor, dropping feet on the
level of the feeding floor The ground is so
graded as to enter the first stories from opposite
sides nearly on a level with the surrounding
grounds, to permit hauling in on the upper floor,
feeding on the second, and hauling out from the
cellar. There is a rack for feeding The sticks
stand perpendicular, 6 inches apart, on a line with
the feeding floor; the lower ends are IN il sill or
plank by 10 inches. inches from the edge, 10
receive the rack board standing angle Of 45
degrees, and the base or plank at an angle Of 10
deg. the lower edge resting on edge of the mang-
err This is made by saving pine log in the cen
tire 20 inches in diameter tile ttoughs being formed
IN the fiat side of proper length to rec Give the
stenchion between them 10 the edge of the log
The cows are secured with chains fitted for the
purpose, such as are found at the hard ware
stores.
4 he first four feet of The Aoor are laid tight,
with slight inclination; then three 3 by inch
Jolss placed edgewise and inches apart, max
ing four spaces Of inches to drain Of the liquor,
and serve as thermometer, or air gauge, 10 indi-
cate when the cellar is tight, and VAIN enough,
to prevent cold air from rising. The balance of
the floor Is laid tight, also Ihclining towards the
grazing, making curved floor, the top of the
CRATE forming the lowest part OF the centre.
The manure Is all dropped into the cellar;
the surplus liquor 10 be absorbed by muck placed
In the cellar for the purpose, and finally ermi-
mating IN the vat
cask Of salt aud cask OF lime are kept on
the feeding floor, and used in equal quantities
the lime 10 be thrown pronscuously over the
cattle, floor, and manger, to destroy vermin ,neu-
trallze acids, and berale ammonia, and for the
general health Of the animals and cask of pIas-
ter, to be used occasion may require, to fix
the gases behind The stock-a of which will in.
crease the value OF the manure more than their
cost
Feeding commenced the winter with ff-
teen cows, and is many hundred bushels Of tur-
nips, with various kinds of straw, and $50 BUSH
els OF grain, on which have fed my stock, and
shall continue 10 do so for three months to come.
My manner is to steam 10 bushels Of iurnips eve
ry other day, Chat Being the capacity of the
steamlng apparatus mixing one bushel of meal
while hot, and feeding Immediately after milking,
with as much straw as they will eat clean; Iced
lis cows, iatllngs, horses, colls and pigs on the
same, with the only difference of applying the
waste litter OF bedding externally to the pigs which
is scanty for that purpose; for the liquor from the
turnips impresu0tes the orts in the troughs, (which
Is believed TO be perfect substitute for chopping
straw, for my cattle look full, hold their flesh,
look sleek like Henry Clay negroes, and yield
milk well. Feeding should be at regular stated
periods.
Watering. In moderate weather, my cattle are
let out for an hour in the middle of the day. and
drink clear brook water which runs within a few
rods of the barn-and having their mush night
and morning is all they seem TO require. In cold
weather, they are let out in the morning, and put
IN Immediately and fed on warm turnips thus
taking off their chill.
Contiguous to my steamer is a % hogshead cis-
tern, receiving the water from the roof which is
used for steam, and the surplus for cattle and
colts which run loose in the cellar, and are fed
from rack which works to charm.
The rationale of this method is economy in ex-
GLIDING cold air by tight buildings. The straw
contains carbon sufficient to furnish caloric to
keep up the temperature of the blood and other
elements far the necessary waste of the system
The turnips are rich in the elements OF milk,
muscle and bone, and the grains are rich in fatty
matter
By cooking, the nutritious food commences de-
composition sooner and the stomach will digest
more, and more thoroughly thus giving a net
profit of all they consume over the necessary
waste of the system.
The proportion of elements in this composition
OF food is admirably tilted to health and the pro-
ductiou of milk, bone and muscle And regularl-
ty in feeding and Watering preserves the appetite,
strengthens the digestive powers, and renders the
animal more quiet. M. MOWER.
Bangor Dec. 20h, 1852.
Passing Styange--A lady passing bonnet shop
without stopping