96 KEEPING ONE COW. 



If there is ready sale for milk at paying prices, we would dispose 

 of the calf in some way, when it is a few days old, but if milk is 

 not salable at good prices, it is better to let the calf have the milk 

 until from four to six weeks old, and then if the butcher will not 

 give us a fair price for it, we get some one to dress it for us, and 

 sell it among our neighbors, who are generally glad to buy it. In 

 j that way we get from eight to twelve dollars for our calf. We 

 think it as well for the cow to keep the calf for that length of 

 time. It seems to satisfy a necessity of her nature to have her 

 baby suck and draw its nourishment from her. We know of no 

 better picture of contentment than to see an old cow suckling her 

 calf after being away from it all day. 



We advise regular hours of milking night and morning, and 

 kind, gentle treatment, carding in winter, cleanliness and thorough 

 ventilation of stable at all times. la summertime, if confined in a 

 yard, a thin sheet to keep off the flies will be found very comforta- 

 ble for the cow, and profitable to the owner. I presume some will 

 ridicule the idea of blanketing the cow, but w y hy not as well as 

 the horse ? Again, if confined in a yard, she should have plenty 

 of clean pure water, and plenty of shade. Keeping a cow, with 

 us, is not altogether a matter of f<*ncy or pleasure, but of conveni- 

 ence, economy, comfort, profit, and health, in having pure sweet 

 milk and fresh butter. 



