32 BOAED OF AGRICULTUKE. 



in proportion to the size of the pastures and the amount of 

 food produced. One pasture produces a large quantity of 

 what we call June grass ; another pasture has a large quan- 

 tity of clover, although some part of it has a little June- 

 grass ; the other is in a similar condition. I have noticed 

 that when the cows go into the pasture that has only June 

 grass, and occupy it so many days, they fall off in their milk. 

 Why is it that they fall off in their milk when they go into 

 that pasture, as they do not fall off when they go into another 

 pasture that possesses, not clover altogether, but different 

 grasses, — the other having almost entirely June grass ? I 

 have always attributed it to the quality of the food that the 

 cow ate. It is possible that there was more in quantity 

 in the other place, and that might account for the difference ; 

 but I always supposed that it was the difference in the qual- 

 ity of the food. I can hardly think differently in regard to 

 the matter. 



These are things which have come under my own observa- 

 tion in regard to the quality and quantity of milk produced 

 from different pastures. 



Mr. Lewis. I see that my friend misunderstood me. My 

 position was, that I had been unable, with anything I could 

 feed to my cows, to improve the quality or increase the quan- 

 tity of the milk, when giving them all the good grass they 

 wanted. Cows half-starved don't give as good milk as those 

 that have enough to eat ; and I apprehend that my fi-iend's 

 June grass had got too big and his cows would not eat it. If 

 he will keep his June grass short, and turn his cows into that, 

 if he does not get more milk than he does from clover, I will 

 give him my hat and go home bareheaded. (Laughter.) 



Dr. Sturtevant, of Framingham. I should like to ask 

 Mr. Lewis the average yield, per cow, of his dairy. 



Mr. Lewis. I made cheese for twenty-two years, and my 

 average for the time was a fraction over 500 pounds of cheese 

 per cow, including heifers and all. I have never milked over 

 forty. . I commenced the dairy business with fourteen cows, 

 and as fast as I could find neighbors owning the adjoining land 

 fools enough to trust me for another piece of land, I ran in 

 debt for it, and increased my dairy. I have never milked 

 over forty cows ; my average, I should think, has been about 

 thirty-seven. 



