26 KEEPING OKE COW. 



was given. The millet was also hoed twice, after which the growth 

 effectually shaded the ground, and thus prevented the growth 

 of weeds. In the meantime I had repaired the stable, and had a 

 large door cut into the side next to the original lot, and made a stall 

 for our pet Jersey cow. The floor was cypress, three niches thick, 

 and sloped slightly from the manger. By actual measurement of 

 the space occupied by the cow giving just room for her hind 

 feet to clear the same, a trough, eight inches deep, and fifteen 

 wide, was made to receive the urine and droppings. The 

 stall was four and one half feet wide, the sides coming on- 

 ly half the length of the cow, and just her Mght. The manger 

 extended entirely across the stall, was twelve inches wide at the 

 bottom, and eighteen at the top, and twelve deep, the bottom 

 being twelve inches above the floor. The fastening consisted of a 

 five-eighths iron rod, passing from one side of the stall to the other, 

 along the center of the manger, and one inch from it. On this 

 rod was a ring, to which was attached a short chain that ended in 

 a snap-catch, to attach to a ring fastened to the head-stall the 

 head-stall being made of good, broad leather. Usually, in turning 

 the cow out in the morning, the head-stall was unbuckled and left 

 in the stable ; to fasten again was but a moment's work. By this 

 arrangement the cow had full liberty to move her head, without 

 any possibility of getting fastened by the halter. The bottom of 

 this manger was made of slats, one half inch apart, so that no dirt 

 could collect. For feeding wet messes, there was a box made to fit 

 one end of the manger, which could be removed to be washed with- 

 out trouble. With plenty of sawdust, costing only the hauling, per- 

 fect comfort and perfect cleanliness were matters of course. 



Attached to the stable was a lot fifty by fifty feet, where, in pleas- 

 ant weather, the cow was turned, but free to go in and out of her 

 stall at pleasure. In this lot was a trough, connected with the pump, 

 where a supply of clean and fresh water was always kept. Daily 

 tLis trough was emptied and thoroughly cleaned. A cow may 

 eat dirty feed occasionally, but see to it that the water she drinks is 

 pure. Unless this is attended to her milk is unfit for human food. 



The manure trough being supplied with sawdust, the urine, 

 as well as the droppings, were saved and removed daily to a 

 covered shed located in one corner of the lot, where it was kept 

 moist, and worked over occasionally. Our Jersey was due with 

 her second calf about June twentieth, but was still giving milk 

 in April and May. Her feed from May first to June fifteenth, 

 was the run of a common pasture, with a mess twice daily of 



