40 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



straw ; I feed to my milch cows turnips with a little Indian 

 meal twice a day. Good pasture is best for summer feed. 

 The most profitable manner of feeding cows in spring, fall and 

 winter, is on good hay, with roots, corn and oatmeal ; in sum- 

 mer, abundance of sweet pasture. 



I have no reliable rule for selecting cows for the dairy, or 

 cattle for the stall. 



I have experimented on beef cattle, and consider boiled corn 

 the best feed. 



Cows should go dry six weeks, but if well fed may be milked 

 up to within three or four weeks of the time of calving. 



Maturity of breeding animals is essential. 



Poor keeping will have a tendency to run out the breed. 



A gentleman, many years distinguished for the interest he 

 has taken in the cause of agriculture, writes from a town in 

 Essex County, that nine-tenths of all the cattle kept in the 

 town where he resides are of the old red stock of New England, 

 and for beef, milk and work, this breed is the best for his part 

 of the State. 



For beef, the Durhams are reckoned to yield the most ; the 

 natives, the best. For milk, the Ayrshires and natives, and the 

 grade stock produced by a cross of those breeds. 



The native is the best breed for work. Heifers should come 

 in between two and three years old. A bull may be put to 

 service at two years old, but not before that age. 



Full and generous feed should be allowed calves the first 

 year, so that their growth may not be interrupted or stinted. 



When selecting breeding cattle I am guided by observation. 

 The countenance of the animals should be bright, lively, and 

 expressive, and symmetry of form complete. 



The best mode of keeping cattle in winter is to afford them 

 comfortable stables, and a full supply of well cured hay, regularly 

 distributed. Avoid laying before them more than they need 

 the present hour. Cattle should be kept in summer in pastures 

 of vigorous supply of grass and a full supply of pure water, 

 and a sufficiency of shade trees for their comfort. 



To obtain the greatest profit from milch cows, always keep 

 them in good health and condition, with a free supply of pure 

 air and plenty of good food. I have no rule for selecting cattle 

 for the stall or dairy. Have tried no experiments in feeding 



