254 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



stock, and by crossing them with a thoronghbred bull of some 

 known butter breed, one can in a few j'ears obtain a herd of choice 

 cows. Good bulls from choice butter families can l)e purchased 

 quite reasonably by watching the chances. For instance, I was 

 recentl}' offered a grandson of Jersey Queen of Barnet, who made 

 800 pounds of butter in one year, for $25. It is not necessary that 

 the bull be registered, as the mere fact of registration will add 

 nothing to the intrinsic value ; only be assured that he is full- 

 blooded. 



The heifer calves from the best cows should be raised to snppl3'' 

 deficiencies in the herd caused by the removal of old or inferior 

 cows. My practice is to take the calf from the dam as soon as the 

 milk is good, and teach it to drink, wiiich can generally' be accom- 

 plished b^- giving the finger a few times. Calves, however, are a 

 good deal like children, some learning a great deal quicker than 

 others. I give the new milk until the calf is a fortnight old, then I 

 begin to add a little sweet skim-milk, and when three or four 

 weeks old, all skim-milk is given. If the milk is always sweet, 

 never scalded or overheated, and the pail in which it is given kept 

 sweet and clean, there will be no trouble from scouring or from 

 indigestion. Under this treatment the calf will continue to grow 

 until he is soon able to eat a few shorts, ground oats, barley, or 

 middlings, and choice early cut hay, which should be constant!}' 

 before him. I do not recommend hay-tea or puddings. The aim 

 should be to secure a good growth of bone and muscle witliout a 

 tendency to lay on fat ; consequently we should only supply those 

 foods that will bring about these results. 



A good machine cannot be worked to its greatest capacity- or 

 expected to last long unless it is well oiled, housed, and carefully 

 used. The care that a man gives his farm machiner}- will in a large 

 measure indicate his prosperity. In order to obtain the best results 

 cows should be provided with warm, light, and well-ventilated 

 quarters. If the tie-up is not already warm enough, line up all 

 around with good square-edged boards, which should receive a coat 

 of whitewash once or twice a year to keep sweet and clean. You 

 will find them much cheaper than hay. Tiie stalls should be 

 partitioned off in order that each cow may have what is fed her, 

 without being robbed b}- her neighbor. Tie upon short platforms 

 sloping slightly toward a gutter behind. This should be well- 



