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srrown with such success in this State as in the older States of New Eno-land 

 and New York, that many of our farmers are not disposed to make pro- 

 per exertions to obtain such pasturage and meadows. Our marsh lands, 

 however, are generally susceptible of being plowed and seeded with timo- 

 thy and other cultivated grasses, and being the lands best adapted to the 

 growth of grass, I am sanguine that they will yet be converted into mea- 

 dows and pastures which will produce, bountifully, feed of the best 

 quality for cows and stock generally. The heavy timbered land in the 

 central and northern portions of the State, and the prairies of dark col- 

 ored soil, it is believed, can be made to produce the cultivated grasses. 

 The soil of burr-oak land and that of sandy prairies I regard as not so 

 well adapted to produce grass as grain. Grain growing is the best use 

 to which the latter soils can be put. It will readily be perceived that 

 one of the greatest difficulties that lie in the way of profitable dairying 

 is the labor and expense requisite to convert such land as is best adapted 

 to the business into meadows and pastures that will furnish the best feed 

 for cows. I doubt whether it ever will become a source of much profit 

 while cows are pastured on the native grass in summer, and fed in winter 

 with hay gathered from the marshes. Let none mistake my apprecia- 

 tion of the wild grass of this country — it has served an excellent purpose 

 in the settlement of Wisconsin — and while condemning it as not the feed 

 to make cows give milk in large or rich quantities, I readily admit that it 

 will cause them to thrive and even fatten in summer. But all experienced 

 farmers are aware, that the best food for fattening cattle is not invariably 

 the best to cause cows to give milk. 



As to the best breeds of cows for a dairy it is proper to remark, that a 

 diversity of opinion prevails among dairymen. The Devons are held by 

 many in high repute, while Durhams are preferred by others; but among 

 the native breeds can also be found many of the best kind of cows. It 

 requires considerable judgment and much experience in the management 

 of cows, to select good ones in all cases ; some writers mention certain 

 infallible signs, but we are not aware that such indications are always 

 found to be true indices of the worth of cows. But aside from the .gen- 

 eral appearance of the animal, there are undoubtedly some points worthy 

 of observation, such as a good sized bag, sound teats of fair size, hair 

 on the bag of orange color or dark brown, legs small and flanks deep, 

 &c. There are but few farmers who are ignorant of the importance of 

 selecting the best cows for dairy purposes, it is of no less consequence 



