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say that of the foreign breeds, the Durham or short-horn breed, with good pas- 

 turage, make excellent cows for the dairy. They are large, and require of course 

 more to fill them, than the smaller breeds; but they have been with me excellent 

 milkers. The native breed — as the stock is called that has been the longest in 

 the country — are so well adapted to our climate and pastures, and have so many 

 valuable animals, among them, that they are, perhaps, in more general favor in 

 New England, than any foreign breed. To secure a good stock of dairy cows, 

 breed from the best animals, both male and female; keep the calves well, both 

 summer and winter; they will thus be large enough to "come in," at two years 

 old, and will then tell their own story as to what they can do in the production of 

 butter. If they prdmise well, keep them ; do not be tempted, by an extra price, 

 to part with your best heifers; but if they are ordinary milkers, let the butcher, 

 or any body who wants, take, them for what they are worth. 



Next to good cows, good pasturage is all important to ensure a profitable 

 dairy. Perhaps there is no want of this in Wisconsin ; but here in New England 

 it is the greatest drawback we experience, especially in those portions which have 

 been longest settled. By continued grazing, pastures are exhausted of much of 

 their fertility. The land becomes " bound out," as it is called, and not unfre- 

 quently overrun with mosses. But little has yet been done here to renovate 

 these impoverished pasture lands ; but the attention of our farmers is now being 

 turned to this important subject. Top-dressing-s of compost manures, of ashes, 

 and of gypsum, are applied to such lands with marked benefit. But it is easier to 

 keep good pastures in good heart, than to retain such as are impoverished, and it 

 is altogether wiser. Let the farmers of Wisconsin, therefore, look to it, and not 

 over-stock and o\'er-feed their pastures ; let them, betimes, renovate such of them 

 as begin to deteriorate; let them procure seeds of honey -suckle, and the peren- 

 nial pasture grasses best adapted to the soil and climate, and sow them where 

 they think they are needed, or where they will give a greater and richer run of 

 feed. Thus, the product of the dairy will be materialh" increased, and the thrift of 

 the farmer be sure to follow. 



All grazing animals, and milch cows especially, must ha\e water as well as 

 grass. Clear running water, either in the brooks or from springs, is best adapted 

 to this ])ui-pose. Muddy water may satisfy the thirst of cows, but will not be drank 

 in such quantities as that which is clear, nor will the flow of milk be so great and 

 pure from the former as the latter. There are some pieces of pasture land, however, 

 wholly destitute of water, and then the want must be supplied by artificial means. 

 This may be done on plains by making excavations, and lining the bottom and 

 sides with clay, so as to retain the rain water. But if there are hills in pastures, 

 the better way is to dig a well on the brow of a hill ; and as springs are always 

 nearer the surface in such places, than in plains, you will soon come to water. 



