NEAT STOCK. Ql 



I would prefer grain ; but with the coarser fodder, roots are 

 absohitely invahiable. But the feed being what it may, a 

 warm barn is necessary, and I may say indispensable. No 

 stock can be carried through the winter successfully in a barn 

 with the winds howling through it, and the snow sifting over 

 the stock. As to turning cattle out, I thinK they are better 

 out of the barn three or four hours a day, when the day is 

 warm. But I have come to the conclusion that when the barn 

 is warmer than the weather outside, the barn is the best place 

 for the cattle. 



The difference between keeping young stock and cows 

 giving milk is very material. To winter cows on coarse feed 

 and derive an income from them for milk, is out of the ques- 

 tion. The question at present in regard to the dairying 

 interests of Maine, is whether early cut hay is the feed for 

 cows. There is one root of which the value as feed is under- 

 estimated, and that is the strap leaf tift-nip. They can be 

 raised easily in large quantities, at a very moderate expense, 

 and for early feed they are excellent. Mr. Hayford tells us 

 he begins to feed his cattle in October. I think stock should 

 be fed from the time feed begins to dry up in the pastures. 

 By so doing nothing is lost and much gained. I would rather 

 have the flat turnip than any other root. It is fit for an 

 animal to eat. The ruta baga is fit for neither man nor 

 animal in December. I would as soon think of placing a 

 dish of russet apples before you, Mr. President, as those 

 turnips before cows in December. But take them in March 

 and they are ripe and ready to be eaten. The purple top 

 turnip can be raised at half the expense of the English. I 

 have raised them, and I think they are worth more, but I do 

 not mean to say that they are as valuable at certain times as 

 other varieties, I am feeding my cows more, yes, perhaps 

 three times as much as Mr. Reynolds feeds his cows. I gen- 

 erally water them right after milking. I give them very 

 nearly a peck of roots to each cow, a day. I have much 

 straw and corn fodder which I feed to them. So for as my 



