FARMERS' INSTITUTES. 85 



J. D. Towar: Early White, Medium Green and the Dwarf Soy Beans will mature 

 seed in this climate. 



Q. What are the best mixed grasses and clovers for meadows? 



C. D. Smith : I have found no grasses equal to timothy and orchard grass for hay. 

 Among the clovers I should claoose ordinary red, mammoth, and alsike. 



L. T>. Watkins; I heartily recommend alsike and timothy. 



Wm. Campbell: I have found orchard grass excellent in pasture, as it starts earlier 

 than other grasses and comes up very quickly. 



E. L. Lockwood: I have sown alsike for a great many years. I like it because it 

 stays in the ground, makes excellent hay and is much hardier than other clover. 



Mr. Bullock of Elba : I have sown medium clover in the corn field and secured a good 

 catch . 



L. D. Watkins: I would sow two 2>ounds of alsike with six or eight of the medium 

 red. 



UP-TO-DATE CARE OF THE DAIRY COW. 



J. AV. HUTCHIXS, HANOVER, MICH. 



The dairy cow is an animal with a special function — that of milk 

 production — and a special development for that work. The feed, which 

 in the beef animal is used to maintain a high degree of animal heat and 

 to cover the body with a coat of flesh, in the specially developed dairy 

 breeds goes largely to the production of milk. Hence the need for spe- 

 cial care for the dairy cow. 



What is included in "care?" In one word — comfort. This includes 

 many points. Let us specify some of them. 



The dairy cow should be protected in severe weather. A most con- 

 venient method, during the summer and early fall months is to provide 

 a well littered shed or covered yard, sufficiently large to accommodate 

 the cows kept. Here they may be protected from cold rains and from 

 the chill of the frosty nights of early fall. By closing and darkening 

 these sheds they make an excellent place for the cows to escape from 

 the annoyance of flies and the intense heat of the day in midsummer. 

 Here, too, they may be turned for exercise in the winter. The stables 

 used in winter need not be expensive, but they should be comfortable. 

 A stable in which the droppings freeze every cold night is too cold for 

 comfort or for profit. The extra food used to maintain animal heal 

 is a loss. 



But in attempting to keep the cow comfortable, care must be taken 

 that she be not deprived of pure air. Ventilate the stable in such a way 

 that the cold air will not strike the cow directly; but bv all means venti- 

 late. . 



Another requirement is clean water at a temperature at which the 

 cow will drink freely. When no device for watering in the stable is 

 nsed, a cistern or shallow well, from which the water is pumped di- 

 rectly for the cow, is very satisfactory. When large tanks are used, 

 «ome means of w^arming the water must be employed. 



The food consumed is the material from which the cow must manu- 

 facture the milk product. It must be sufficient in quantity or produc- 

 tion decreases; right in quality, or food is wasted. A certain amount 

 is required to sustain the life, keep up animal heat and maintain the 

 body at its normal weight. The product of milk, and hence the profit, 



