84 KEEPING OXE COW. 



peck of sliced beets, on which has been sprinkled about a dessert 

 spoonful of salt, which completes her breakfast. At this time it 

 is a very good plan to use the curry comb or card for ten or fifteen 

 minutes, though I must confess that I sometimes neglect this part 

 of the programme : still I think that my cow gets far more indul- 

 gence in this direction than most cows in the neighborhood. After 

 she has finished eating, if the weather is not too unfavorable, I 

 allow her to run out in the yard, where, at noon, I give her just 

 as much long hay aj she will eat up clean, and no more- 



There is at all times plenty of fresh water in the yard, to which 

 she can help herself whenever she so desires ; otherwise she would 

 need to have it supplied to her at least twice a day, but not im- 

 mediately before or after a feed of grain. At half-past five in the 

 afternoon she receives the same amount of food, and prepared in 

 the same manner as in the morning. This method is continued 

 until the crop of rye is large enough for use. All changes 

 from dry to green feed must be made gradually, if we would 

 avoid loss. By this time our supply of roots will be exhausted, 

 but the green food, in a measure, takes the place of them. I con- 

 tinue to give the same amount of grain throughout the summer 

 as I did through the month of April, and also to mix it with 

 chaffed hay slightly moistened, as this insures the complete masti- 

 cation and thorough intermingling with the saliva, which is so 

 essential to perfect digestion and assimilation. As the supply of 

 green food increases, I diminish the quantity of chaffed hay until 

 but one-half the former amount is used, which quantity is con- 

 tinued through the soiling season. The one-eighth acre of rye 

 will last until about June fifteenth, at which time the red clover 

 will be large enough to feed. We should not change abruptly 

 from one kind of green food to another, but increase the one and 

 diminish the other gradually until the change is complete. To 

 ascertain the exact amount needed for a feed of this kind, as well 

 as of the other green crops, requires some judgment on the part of 

 the feeder ; but a very safe rule is to feed just such an amount as 

 the cow will eat clean, and no more. We cannot specify exactly 

 what would be a proper amount in every case, neither can we 

 spend time to weigh each ration, but, by observing carefully, we 

 are enabled to determine very closely. I find that my cow will 

 eat, besides her other feed, a good armful of green fodder three 

 times a day. I always cut a day's supply on the afternoon pre- 

 ceding, and allow it to remain in the swath, where it will wilt, 

 and a portion of the water evaporate, thereby rendering it more 



