CHAPTER XXXVII 

 THE HEADMAN'S JOB 



OUR life at Four Oaks began in earnest in 

 January, 1897. Even during the winter months 

 there was no lack of employment and interest 

 for the Headman. I breakfasted at seven, and 

 from that time until noon I was as busy as if I 

 were working for $20 a month. The master's 

 eye is worth more than his hand in a factory like 

 mine. My men were, and are, an unusual lot, 

 intelligent, sober, and willing, but they, 

 like others, are apt to fall into routine ways, and 

 thereby to miss points which an observing pro- 

 prietor would not overlook. 



The cows, for instance, were all fed the same 

 ration. Fifteen pounds of mixed grains was 

 none too much for the big Holstein milk-makers, 

 who were yielding well and looking in perfect 

 health ; but the common cows were taking on 

 too much flesh and falling off in milk. I at once 

 changed the ration for these six cows by leaving 

 out the corn entirely and substituting oat straw 

 for alfalfa in the cut feed. The change brought 

 good results in five of the cows ; the other one 



