328 AMERICAN CATTLE. 



of the country, namely, dry cows, wintered on straw, and no 

 shelter except it be the lee side of the barnyard, until the calf is 

 dropped, when it is too late, for the poor in flesh cow, to yield 

 her full capacity. 



"'A cow should at all times, when milking, be fully supplied 

 with meal; not stimulated to excess, however, for that would 

 certainly produce reaction afterwards; but she must have a full 

 and plentiful supply, at all times, of good food and water. For 

 that purpose, I have grown early rye to begin with in the early 

 season, before the grass is sufficient to turn out on; then, after 

 harvest, during the dry weather, when the pasture fails, Hunga- 

 rian grass, (millet,) to be followed with corn, sowed in drills for 

 fodder, which, cut morning and evening, and fed to the stock 

 whilst milking, fills them twice a day, and with the pasture, 

 makes up all that is required. During the last season, while it 

 was necessary to soil with Hungarian- grass and corn for fodder, 

 we have also fed two quarts of ship-stuff each night and morn- 

 ing, as we feel satisfied that, although the Hungarian grass and 

 green corn will keep up the yield of milk, yet they will not alone 

 make as much butter, as a full supply of pasture or the natural 



"'I look upon a cow as similar to a steam boiler; no matter 

 how good they may be, unless the boiler is well supplied with 

 water and good fuel, also well attended to, the supply of steam 

 will be short, or it will be in proportion to the fuel and attention. 

 So, also, with the cow; no matter how good she mav be, if she 

 is not well and plentifully fed and cared for, her product will be 

 shortened. 



" 'Another very important matter with cows, is, that they should 

 be protected from storms and bad weather. They should be fed 

 and kept under shelter when the nights are wet and inclement; 

 this more particularly in the early season, when the cow is fresh 

 and in full milk; one exposure to a cold, wet night, has fre- 

 quently reduced the milk one-half. Also in the fall, when the 



