On Dairy- Farming. 345 



they had used bones to a very large extent on their pastures. 

 In every district the best cheesemakers are generally those who 

 expend the most in improving their grass. Wheie artificial 

 manures are extensively used, the cheese may require a different 

 system, and more care in its management, but its quality will be 

 superior. 



There is an immense drain upon the mineral resources of the 

 land entailed by any system which turns upon the sale of milk, 

 either in its natural or manufactured form ; so that where two 

 adjoining fields of equal quality are grazed, the one with dairy 

 stock and the other with feeding stock, the difference in condition 

 will in a few years be quite apparent ; therefore, unless the dairy- 

 pastures are liberally dressed with manures, they will soon 

 become perceptibly poorer. This objection to dairying has, 

 however, lost much of its importance since modern science has 

 placed the mineral stores of the earth so largely within our 

 reach. 



A large proportion of our dairy-pastures is very much in need 

 of a judicious outlay for both draining and manures. There 

 is little use in applying manures to wet pastures on which the 

 water stagnates ; and, again, drainage is not of much utility, 

 unless followed up by a liberal outlay in manures, to effect a 

 thorough change in the herbage ; otherwise, the aquatic plants 

 and grasses struggle on, though deprived of their food by drainage, 

 and in some cases the produce is actually lessened. 



It is much to be regretted that from ignorance and supineness, 

 want of capital, or insecurity of tenure, our pastures are so much 

 neglected ; for it is my decided opinion that money judiciously 

 laid out on the grass-land brings in a more certain, if a less quick, 

 return than when expended in the growth of corn. 



Annual Yield of Milk. 



Before a comparison can be made between the results of 

 different systems of management, the annual yield of milk must 

 be estimated ; and this is so variable, so dependent on the class 

 of cows kept, and still more so on their treatment, that it is 

 difficult to give a correct average. 



The yield per cow per annum ranges from 400 to 600 gallons ; 

 though in particular instances, under liberal treatment, even the 

 latter quantity may be considerably exceeded. If, however, we 

 make allowance for the number of heifers which a large dairy 

 always includes, for the home consumption of which no account 

 is taken, take the case of moderate pastures — the proper basis for 

 all general calculations — and 535 gallons may be considered a 

 fair average. This agrees with the account given by Mr. 



