50 VERMONT AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 



The grass and clover are our main dependence for coarse 

 feed but the corn plant is gradually working her way up well to 

 the front in the esteem of the best dairymen in the state as a 

 milk producing plant and when cured in the form of ensilage is 

 first among our feeds for the economical production of milk in 

 winter. Our hay crop to be the most profitable for growing 

 cattle and producing milk must be cut early. Yes, cut earlier. 

 Why don't we as dairyman wake up to this very important fact 

 of our business. Early cut hay contains more protein or milk 

 producing ingredients and the longer it stands after it is headed 

 the less protein there is in it, as well as less milk and flesh, and 

 the more meal we shall need to buy to make it a perfect ration. 

 But even with this early cut hay we need a good supply of en- 

 silage to go with it to make the cows do their best. Yes, you 

 want ensilage for it is a great boon to the winter dairyman. 

 It is like grass in that it is succulent and helps to keep their 

 bowels loose and healthy. A boon to winter dairymen, I said, 

 and winter dairymen is what we all ought to be. Don't lay 

 down your work five or six months in the year, for no business 

 can stand that and be profitable. 



Have your cows come in so as to give an equal amount of 

 milk and butter the year around, then you not only have some- 

 thing to do, but something coming to pay expenses every week 

 in the year. 



Strive to make your feed as palatable as possible, change 

 occasionally if you can for like yourself they like a change ; 

 these things all help them to eat more food and so give more 

 milk . 



Weigh your hay, ensilage and meal and know what it costs 

 you per day to keep your cows and what they produce and so 

 know about your business and whether it pays you or not. 

 Apply business methods, figure out your ration, put the same 

 amount of business into your work that you would to succeed 

 in a store, a manufacturing industry or anything else and 5'ou 

 will receive a profit greater in proportion to the money invested 

 and risk taken, than in any other line of employment you may 

 choose. Why then should we be complaining of our lot and 

 of our condition when it is just what we make it, either a con- 

 stant burden and trouble to ourselves and others or a comfort, 

 yes, the noblest, purest, highest, and grandest work that God 

 has given to man. Then let us brighten our countenances and 

 show to all who know us that we are a happy contented class 

 and looking after our interests as well as we can in our condi- 

 tion, striving to better it by education and thought and so grow 

 as God would have us to be, noble dairymen and dairy women. 



