KEEPING ONE COW. 



to force any dumb animal to stand exposed to the rays of an 

 August mid-day sun, or where she is tormented nearly to death by 

 flies. Yet we often see just such inhuman neglect on the part 

 of those who should know better. 



Although in many respects desirable, a pasture lot is not ab- 

 solutely essential, and in the case of the villager, whose land is 

 measured by feet instead of acres, it must be dispensed with. 

 Hence we have recourse to what is termed the soiling system, 

 which is simply cultivating such crops as will produce a succession 

 of green food throughout the season, and placing the same before 

 the cow in such quantities and at such times as she may require, 

 instead of allowing her to tramp around after her feed, and 

 thereby waste more than she eats. It requires some skill and 

 judgment to carry out this plan successfully, but wherever it has 

 besn practised judiciously and intelligently, the results have been 

 uniformly satisfactory. As to what amount of land is requirsd in 

 order to keep a cow through the year, I will not pretend to say ; 

 nor do I think it advisable to try to produce the entire amount of 

 food required for a full year's sustenance. 



HAY. 



I know tLat for me it is far better to purchase what hay will be 

 needed to feed through the winter than to attempt to grow it. 

 Besides, our village lots are much too small to be profitably con- 

 verted into hay fields, and even if there should be more land than 

 is necessary to furnish the soiling crops for summer feeding, 

 it is usually much better economy to employ the same in the cul- 

 tivation of small fruits, which, as I have before stated, more than 

 pays for what hay is required, besides supplying us with many 

 luxuries. 



In my own case, I have set apart one-half of an acre from which 

 to supply the cow with food during a period extending from May 

 first to November first. Now this will be entirely insufficient, 

 except under the very best cultivation and management, which, of 

 course, I am bound to bestow upon it. That it is sufficient, with 

 proper care, I have repeatedly proved. Such results could hardly 

 be expected, however, from land which has received no previous 

 preparation, and is worn, wormy, and weedy. Let us assume, then, 

 that our half acre is in a good, fair state of productiveness. To 

 produce a continuous supply of wholesome fodder, I find a system 

 of rotation must be practised, and have subdivided my half acre 

 into four equal parts, containing each one-eighth of an acre, or 



