NEW PRACTICE. 279 



barn is provided with an abundance of light and ventilation, 

 and is whitewashed throughout its interior at stated intervals ; 

 it is provided also with concrete floors, and on a line just back 

 of the heels of the stock as they stand in their stalls a shal- 

 low trough is made into the floor, and this is sprinkled with 

 lime daily and filled with earth or other suitably absorbent 

 materials. Daily, also, the contents of the trough is removed 

 and preserved as fertilizing material. Deodorizers are fre- 

 quently and regularly employed, and the whole place is con- 

 stantly kept sweet and clean. The cows are never "run" in 

 being driven to or from pasture, if indeed they are ever turned 

 out to pasture, for there are many dairies, especially in the 

 proximity of great cities, where the price of land is high, in 

 which the cows are stall bred and stall fed, and where they 

 never see the open except as they are taken out for exercise. 

 Under such circumstances a very small place may do a sur- 

 prising amount of business. As an example, a farm of fif- 

 teen acres may be mentioned which supports thirty head of 

 stock. The place was taken in hand some years ago by a 

 retired minister who knew absolutely nothing about farm- 

 ing. At the time the new owner came into possession of the 

 property it would not support two cows and the horse that 

 was used to work the land. The close of the first year under 

 the new proprietor showed a loss of $46. The owner con- 

 tinued his business in an intelligent and perfectly systematic 

 manner. He read the best books that were to be obtained on 

 the subject; he saved and applied every ounce of fertilizer 

 formed upon the place; he made use of a silo for preserving 

 succulent forage ; he practiced the rotation of crops. Need- 

 less to say, the milk which all goes to one customer, the 

 management of a public institution, brings the highest market 



