38 



KEEPING ONE COW. 



The result of this continuous stabling has been a rapid accumu- 

 lation of manure, and this having been mixed with all the suitable 

 refuse of the place, and forked over several times, I this spring 

 have on hand a huge pile of rich compost. It is more than can 

 be used on the garden, and the newer part has been corded up 

 under a temporary shed for sale or future use. This alone well 

 pays for all my extra work in keeping the cow, as I have yearly 

 been obliged to buy for the garden. 



Our plan during the year has been to sell a little milk to neigh- 

 bors, sat aside two quarts daily for family use, cream and all. 

 The cream from the remainder has been made into butter, and an 

 accurats account kept of tho butter produced. 



The following is the result of this first year keeping one cow : 



EXPENSES ! 



rpe 



4 tons of Hay, av. $20 80.00 



500 Ibs Oats in straw 4.25 



WHO Ibs. Wlieat Bran, @ $1.20 11 .52 



350 Ibs. Corn-Meal @, $1. 10 3.85 



4 bus. Oats @ 55c 2.-:0 



Expended $106. 3T 



Less 400 Ibs. Hay on hand 3. 



Year's expense 103.37 



RETURNS : 



155 qts. Milk sold 7c $ 10.85 



311 qts. Skim-milk, @ 3c 9 33 



Sales $ 20.18 



620 qts. Milk for family, @ 7c. . .. 43.40 

 123 Ibs. Butter made, @,35c .... 43.05 



Year's return $106.68 



00 Memorandum Cost. 

 Less sales 



.$103.37 



. 20.18 



83.19 



Plus purchases 



88qts. Milk 6.16 



52 Ibs. Butter 16J>4 



Cow products cost family. $105.99 



Here is a net balance of three dollars and twenty-six cents in 

 favor of the cow, without allowing anything for the abundant 

 supply of skim-milk and butter-milk which has been profitably 

 used in the poultry yard as well as at the house cr for the big 

 compost heap, which could readily be sold. 



The figures also show that the family has had a better supply of 

 cow products than last year, at seven dollars and sixty-five cents 

 less expensa. No labor is charged, for I am not so much keeping 

 an exact account of the maintenance of the cow, as of the profit 

 of my keeping one, taking care of her myself. And no credit is 

 given for manure, as I mean to apply that to reducing the cost of 

 keeping in the future. Tha cow might have been fed at less cost, 

 but I intended to have her improve on my hands, and she has done 

 so. " June " now weighs seven hundred and sixty-two pounds, is 

 about to have her third calf, and is certainly worth more than was 

 paid for her. 



Altogether, in spite of unfavorable conditions there is no occa- 

 sion to complain of the result of the year. 



