a
small quantity was given, and increased gradually to the full allowance.

But the most elaborate and valuable experiments in the feeding and
management of milch cows, are those made, not long since, by Mr. T.
Horsfall, of England, and published in the Journal of the Royal
Agricultural Society. His practice, though adapted more especially,
perhaps, to his own section, is nevertheless of such general application
and importance as to be worthy of attention. By his course of treatment
he found that he could produce as much and as rich butter in winter as
in summer.

His first object was to afford a full supply of the elements of food
adapted to the maintenance, and also to the produce of the animal; and
this could not be effected by the ordinary food and methods of feeding,
since it is impossible to induce a cow to consume a quantity of hay
requisite to supply the waste of the system, and keep up, at the same
time, a full yield of the best quality of milk. He used, to some extent,
cabbages, kohl rabi, mangolds, shorts, and other substances, rich in the
constituents of cheese and butter. "My food for milch cows," says he,
"after having undergone various modifications, has for two seasons
consisted of rape cake five pounds, and bran two pounds, for each cow,
mixed with a sufficient quantity of bean-straw, oat-straw, and shells of
oats, in equal proportions, to supply them three times a day with as
much as they will eat. The whole of the materials are moistened and
blended together, and, after being well steamed, are given to the animal
in a warm state. The attendant is allowed one pound to one pound and a
half per cow, according to circumstances, of bean-meal, which he is
charged to give to each cow in proportion to the yield of milk; those in
full milk getting each two pounds per day, others but little. It is dry,
and mixed with the steamed food on its being dealt out separately. When
this is eaten up, green food is given, consisting of cabbages, from
October to December, kohl rabi till February, and mangold till grass
time, with a view to nicety of flavor. I limit the quantity of green
food to thirty or thirty-five pounds per day for each. After each feed,
four pounds of meadow hay, or twelve pounds per day, is given to each
cow. They are allowed water twice a day, to the extent which they will
drink."

Bean-straw uncooked having been found to be hard and unpalatable, it was
steamed to make it soft and pulpy, when it