KEEPING ONE COW. 55 



He learned that a cow would eat almost anything that grows, 

 but that judgment and experience was needed in feeding to pro- 

 duce the best results. Father Granger said they could keep a cow 

 as well as not, and better too, and Joseph began to believe it. At 

 the suggestion of father G. he borrowed a bag, and on his way 

 home stopped at the grist mill and had it filled with bran, which 

 the old gentleman said was about the best feed for a cow just be- 

 fore coming in. After arriving home " Comfort " received a feed of 

 hay and a quart of bran had a drink of fresh water, her stable 

 cleaned, some fresh shavings given her for a bedding, and with 

 kind pats and words was left for the night. In the evening bed- 

 ding was talked over. Joseph thought he would get the privilege 

 of gathering leaves from a wood lot about one half mile 

 distant, but Mary thought they would be too wet at this 

 season, then sawdust was suggested, but that was not quite the 

 thing they concluded, that is, if they could think of anything bet- 

 ter. To be perfect it must be comfortable for the cow to stand or 

 lie upon, it must be an absorbent of liquid manure, and something 

 that would add to the value of the compost heap, and would easily 

 decompose. Suddenly Joseph exclaimed, "I have it, just the 

 thing. You remember I went out to N. last fall to do a job of 

 work for Charlie Curtiss's brother, and when he came to bring me 

 home, with my tools, he put a large top box on his wagon box, 

 and also put in a number of sacks. I asked him what he was 

 going to bring home and he said * oat shucks ' to bed his cows 

 with that the shucks were dry and bulky, and for fifty cents you 

 could get all you could draw at a load. He said it was the best 

 and cheapest bedding he could get, and much more than paid for 

 itself in the value of the manure. Th;it is just what we want, and 

 I will get Charlie to draw me a load to-morrow." So the next 

 night u Comfort " laid down for the first time in her life on a " first- 

 class" bed of oat shucks, while the adjoining stall was filled full 

 for future use. 



" Joseph, what are you going to do with that lumber Charlie left 

 here to-day, said Mary," a few evenings later? "Well I have 

 been thinking 'Comfort' ought to have a little yard where she 

 can walk around and enjoy the sunshine and fresh air. I am 

 going to build a fence from the farther corner of the hennery 

 to the fence on the back side of the lot, and one from the corner of 

 the shed back, and that will make her a good yard. Those two 

 English cherry trees will come in it and furnish shade for her in 

 the hottest weather. 



