APPLICATION OF GENERAL PRINCIPLES. 183 



and to develop the highest capacity for such purposes in separ- 

 ate breeds. 



The remaining portions of the paper were devoted to the con- 

 sideration of the application of general principles to the practical 

 details of breeding stock for the dairy, but as they elicited little 

 discussion upon the points to which they refer, it is not thought 

 important to present them in this connection. 



Mr. Johnson. I would like to ask the speaker whether he 

 prefers to have a heifer come in while in the barn, or while 

 upon grass ? 



Mr. Flint. As a matter of practice, I should prefer she 

 should calve a little while before going out to grass. If she 

 goes out to grass a week or a fortnight before calving, it will 

 stimulate the mammary glands to such an extent that they 

 often become painful to the animal, and in many cases she has 

 to be milked before calving. It is desirable to avoid that, if 

 possible. If she comes in two weeks before going out to grass, 

 at the end of that time her udder will have come into its normal 

 condition, and then there is no harm in stimulating it to its 

 utmost capacity. But with young cows, a difficulty with the 

 udder should be avoided, and I think it would be avoided by 

 having them come in a little before they go out to grass. 



Mr. Johnson. That is my own opinion. 



The Chairman. Mr. Flint has opened a field for discussion 

 which will prove interesting to the Board, and to the citizens 

 present, and I hope it will be continued by gentlemen here who 

 thoroughly understand the subject of cattle husbandry. 



Mr. Buffinton. Mr. Flint spoke of milking cows before 

 they calved, in which I have had considerable experience, and 

 I am really undecided whether the practice is a good one or not. 

 I would like to hear the opinion of those who have tried it. We 

 have had more cows troubled with milk fever this last year than 

 ever before, and we have rather laid it to milking them before 

 they calved. 



Mr. Flint. • Where a cow is turned out to grass before she 

 calves, it sometimes becomes a matter of necessity ; it would be a 

 positive and permanent injury to the cow in some cases if she were 

 not milked, but it is to be avoided, if it can be. I think it rather 

 an injury to the calf, and I would rather avoid it if possible. In 



