BUTTER DAIRYING. H'J 



the difference between poor and good pastures can be readil}' sup- 

 plied. I do not propose in this connection to lav down rules for a 

 complete course of soiling ; neither do I advocate exclusive soiling, 

 for portions of the areas of nearly all farms seem peculiarly fitted 

 for grazing, by reason of producing a close, fine growth of nutritious 

 grass, the soil being of such composition as not to be seriously in- 

 jured by the trami)ing of the feeding animals, while other parts 

 ■which are too rough or rockv to be readily made into mowing fields, 

 but which are sufficiently fertile to produce a good sod, should of 

 course be kept in permanent pasture. 



But in most cases our pastures do not furnish food enough, easily 

 gathered, to admit of cows feeding exclusively upon them, producing 

 such quantities of milk as they are capable of doing, on moi-e gen- 

 erous rations. By having a few acres devoted to the growth of 

 orchard grass, oats, and Hungarian grass, the pasture food can be 

 supplemented from the first of June until September with green 

 fodder from the fields, after which, cured fodder and hay from the 

 barn can be fed. By no means understand me as speaking lightly 

 of the value of a good pasture, for he is fortunate indeed who pos- 

 sesses one ; but I do wish to show that it is not indispensible and its 

 absence not a good reason wh}- a person who has a good "grass 

 farm," with a poor or ordinarj' pasture, should hesitate to engage in 

 dairying if he desire to do so. Of course the cows should have the 

 benefit of the best pasture the farm can furnish ; but even with the 

 best, there is but a small part of the year, when additional food will 

 not be consumed, and will not be accounted for by the increased milk. 



I am fully aware of the reluctance entertained by most farmers, 

 to use dr}' hay so long as it can possibl}^ be avoided ; but what is 

 the difference whether we feed out our hay in summer or winter, so 

 long as we receive for it its full value ? Dairying can not be made 

 profitable, unless each cow receives all the food she can utilize. It 

 should be supplied regularly, and in uniform quantities. It is 

 economy to give concentrated food, in the form of bran and corn 

 meal or cotton seed meal throughout the whole time the cow is 

 giving milk, withholding it only when she goes dr3', and for a few 

 days after coming into milk again. 



The winter quarters of animals should be as comfortable as it is 

 possible to make them, with the temperature never so low as the 

 freezing point, and the free admission of sunlight should be pro- 

 vided for, by means of glazed windows. Within these comfortable 



