rafs Land. Cow-keeping Bulls Jliould be kept with 



to twenty or more. The cow-keepers breed ve?y few cattle, and thofe only from 

 cows that give much milk, and with very little attention to the choice of the bull. 

 When keep is plentiful, thebeftfeafon far purchafing thefe animals, in refpedtto 

 price, is the autumn, or the beginning of winter.* 



The length of time which cows go with calf is nine months. It is the practice 

 with fome to keep an arcotrit of the periods of their taking the bull ; and where 

 the flock is extenfive this is of much advantage, a:- it not only enables the farmer to 

 calculate with more certainty on his fupply of milk, but to have proper attention 

 paid to them before as well as at the time of their Calving ; which is of much bene 

 fit to the animals. 



There is a difference of opinion in regard to the diftance of time they mould be 

 come dry before their calving, fome contending, that they may be milked almort 

 to the time of their dropping the calf without injury; while others maintain, that 

 it is abfolutely neceflary that cows mould be laid dry, from one or two months, 

 both for the advantage of themfelves and their calves. It is probable that much in 

 this bufinefs muft depend on the manner in which they are kept ; as where they 

 are well fed they may be continued in milk till within a week or two of their calv 

 ing, without fuffering any injury whatever from it: but in the contrary circum- 

 ftancesitmay be better to let them run dry for a- month, fix weeksj or more, ac 

 cording to their condition, in order to their more fully recruiting their ftrength.- 

 It appears, however, not improbable, but that the longer the milking is continued 

 the more free the cows will be from indurations and other aflfeftions of the 

 udder ;, which is a circumftance deferving of attention. Where only one or 

 two cows are kept for the fupply of a family, it is likewife ufeful to know, that 

 by gpod feeding they may be continued in milk without any bad confequences till 

 nearly the time of calving. We have tried this method feveral times, without per 

 ceiving the leaft poflible injury to arifefrom it. And in the Agricultural Survey of 

 the Weft Riding of Yorkmire it is ftated, that no advantage was found on trial 

 to refult from allowing the cows &quot; to go dry two months before calving/ 

 They have there been kept in milk till- within ten days of the time of dropping 

 the calf. 



Where cows are kept in any great number, jt is always an advantageous practice 

 to keep bulls along with them^ as by fuch means they not only take them more- 





*- Corrected Report of Middlefex. 



