THE JERSEY, ALDERNEY AND GUERNSEY COW. II5 



dition in which many — too many — are kept, we would 

 think that this was not essential. The stalls should be 

 kept clean, and not only so, but the walls free from cob- 

 webs and dust ; and not less essential is it that the 

 mangers should be kept clean also. If we would only 

 pay a little attention to the habits of our farm animals, 

 it would be seen that they are scrupulously clean, 

 almost fastidiously so. Much of the benefit of good 

 food is lost by giving it badly prepared and in dirty 

 mangers or boxes. The importance of ventilation will 

 be to a large extent lost if the interior of the house is 

 not kept clean. It is of little use to admit fresh air to 

 the interior if it is only there to be mixed with nox- 

 ious emanations arising from the presence of dirt. 

 Another point to be attended to is the bedding or lit- 

 tering for the cows ; in many cases this is grossly neg- 

 lected, the animals being kept in a very uncomfortable 

 condition. As a rule, the long straw which is gener- 

 ally used is used in a way anything but economical ; by 

 far the most efficient and most economical way to use 

 straw is to cut it with the straw-cutter. This may 

 appear to be a costly mode of using it, but it is quite 

 the reverse. Less straw is required in this form than 

 if used long, and it not only admits of the " droppings " 

 of the cow being lifted easily away without disturbing 

 the rest of the bedding, but it is, when done well, in the 

 best condition for the manure or dung heap. Sawdust 

 also forms an excellent bedding, as do chaff, leaves, and 

 fine tanner's bark. The ammonia which, in even or- 



