298 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



I will also subjoin an interesting statement by Mr. G. H. 

 Thompson, of Framingham, in regard to his experience in 

 raising poultry, which has been kindly afforded. 



Statement of Mr. John II Daken. 



After a trial of the different breeds of cows, I give the pref- 

 erence to the Ayrshire, for a milk dairy. They are hardy, well 

 shaped, of medium size, and give good returns for the amount 

 of food they consume. They are well adapted to our short 

 pastures and long, cold winters. Much depends on the manage- 

 ment of cows to make them profitable ; gentleness should be 

 observed, and exact regularity in the hours of feeding while 

 confined in the stable, and milking throughout the year. 



I keep my cows in the stable through the winter, except in 

 pleasant weather, I turn them out a short time for exercise. 

 We commence milking at five o'clock in the morning ; and 

 after milking feed with grain, then with hay. After they have 

 finished eating the hay I water them, which will be at about 

 nine o'clock, A. M. ; they are then allowed to stand until noon, 

 when they are again fed with hay. They have nothing more 

 until four o'clock, when they are watered and then grained 

 again. At five I commence milking, and after finishing, feed 

 with corn stover. I feed a mixture of rye, corn, and cotton- 

 seed meal, about five quarts, and twenty pounds of swale hay 

 and corn stover per day, to each cow. For bedding I use dry 

 sand, preferring it to any other. There is no animal pays better 

 for careful attention than the cow. She should have enough to 

 eat and drink, and be kept clean and warm. The milch cow is 

 more liable to diseases than any other stock, the most trouble- 

 some of which is garget. It is easily cured if taken in season. 

 I give one ounce of saltpetre, and wash the bag in warm soap- 

 suds ; let the bag dry, then rub on bacon-fat. In a day or two 

 the cow will be all right. I keep twenty-two cows. 



I have sold this year, 1866, 5,559 cans of milk, 



Which brought ....... 62,034 36 



Twenty calves, at 83.00 per head, ... 60 00 



$2,094 36 



Expenses, including hay, grain and pasturing, . 1,286 00 



Income, ....... $808 36 



