The Question Box. 349 



eaten down close. If I were to plow up my pasture to kill out 

 weeds I would sow rye to feed early. 



I would ask Mr. Converse if some breeds of cows will not hold out in 

 their millj better than will other breeds? 



Mr. Converse. — No, sir; it is not a case of breed, but of indi- 

 viduality. Some cows of a breed will hold out longer than will 

 others, whether they be Guernseys, Ayrshires, Jerseys or Hol- 

 steins. 



How does the cow secrete her milli, or give up or withhold butter fat? 



Mr. Cook. — I don't know. The darkest place in the world, said 

 Governor Hoard, is the inside of a cow. The nervous cow gives 

 most butter fat and will withhold it more than will any other 

 type. 



Taliing a good healthy herd of cows, feeding them good corn ensilage, 

 30 to 35 pounds each, daily, with two full feeds of clover and timothy, 

 with a good grain ration of bran, oats and corn, say seven pounds of the 

 mixture and three pounds of cottonseed meal, ought such a ration produce 

 a good quantity of milk? What changes would you suggest, if any, to 

 better the quality and quantity of milk? 



Mr. Cook. — I should think that would be a very good ration 

 indeed, but one ought to watch the cows and feed accordingly. 

 The weak point in that formula is its cottonseed meal, the per 

 cent, being pretty high. 



Will it be profitable to feed ensilage in summer? 



Mr. Ward. — Most assuredly. The time is close at hand when 

 every man who keeps live-stock will have a summer silo. It is 

 coming and will come to stay. I have seen ensilage three years 

 old that was perfectly sweet and as good as new. 



Does a mixture of peas, oats and barley make a balanced ration for 

 cows giving milk in summer? 



Mr. Converse. — I would leave out the barley. 



Mr. Cook. — That would make a good ration, and I am of the 

 opinion that it is not a good plan to begin balancing a ration in 

 summer for the old cow till she has all she wants to eat. 



A Farmer. — Would you feed a cow grain in summer 



Mr. Cook. — It would depend on the value of the milk; but our 

 practice at home is to feed some grain every day. We buy 

 cheaply as we can, and get all we can for what we sell. 



