302 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



roots directly after milking will, as Mr. Ellsworth says, prevent 

 the flavor getting into the butter somewhat ; but we cannot avoid 

 it entirely ; we must submit to it. 



So in regard to other evils which have been alluded to here. 

 The subject of cows losing their calves has been discussed. The 

 whole medical corps of the State of New York undertook to 

 investigate it, and they came to no conclusion except this : that 

 there are almost as many causes as there are localities and herds. 

 A little musty hay ; a sudden change from one kind of food to 

 another; putting cattle from meadow hay on to good pasture in 

 the spring of the year ; half starving them to death in winter. 

 I have been taken into many a stable in New England, where, 

 with tears in their eyes, the unfortunate owners would show me 

 half a dozen young cows that had lost their calves in the month 

 of January, and for the simple reason that they had been re- 

 duced to such a condition by short feeding, that they had not 

 vitality enough to hold the foetus. A sudden change of wind, 

 a thunder storm, a brutal, vicious blow by a herdsman, a single 

 ugly cow in a herd, any sort of mental agitation will cause it. 

 A cow is as susceptible as any other female animal to all these 

 influences ; and when abortion makes its appearance in a herd, 

 no one can tell where it will end. And the remedy is as various 

 as the cause. The cause can only be ascertained by careful ob- 

 servation by the farmer on his own farm. But uniformly good 

 food, — proper food, — quiet, good judgment, and proper care and 

 warmth, will generally carry a herd of cattle over most of these 

 difficulties. 



Mr. Root, of Barre. I desire to invite Mr. Ellsworth to state 

 his method of preparing his butter for market. Dr. Loring, in 

 his very sensible remarks, has alluded very pointedly to the del- 

 eterious effects upon butter caused by its transportation to mar- 

 ket. I desire to invite Mr. Ellsworth to state his method of 

 transporting butter from his home to market, which I believe is 

 the most practicable and sensible method I have ever seen 

 adopted. 



Mr. Ellsworth. I have seen very much said in agricultural 

 papers about butter and cream being taken into bad places. I 

 have heard it said that cream, before it was taken off was more 

 sensitive than butter, but I hardly think that is so. I will give 

 my experience on that. 



