578 HANDY-BOOK OF HUSBANDRY. 



" failure turns upon it. Cows in milk require more food in pro- 

 *' portion to their size and weight than either oxen or young cattle. 



" In order to keep cows in milk well and economically, reg- 

 " ularity is next in importance to a full supply of wholesome 

 " and nutritious food. The healthy animal stomach is a very nice 

 " chronometer, and it is of the utmost importance to observe 

 " regular hours in feeding, cleaning, and milking. This is a point, 

 *' also, in which very many farmers are at fault — feeding when- 

 " ever it happens to be convenient. The cattle are thus kept in 

 " a restless condition, constantly expecting food when the keeper 

 *' enters the barn, while, if regular hours are strictly adhered to, 

 " they know exactly when they are to be fed, and they rest quietly 

 " till the time arrives. Go into a well-regulated dairy establish- 

 " ment an hour before the time of feeding, and scarcely an animal 

 " will rise to its feet ; while, if it happens to be the hour of 

 *' feeding, the whole herd will be likely to rise and seize their food 

 " with an avidity and relish not to be mistaken. 



" With respect to the exact routine to be pursued, no rule 

 " could be prescribed which would apply to all cases ; and each 

 " individual must be governed much by circumstances, both in 

 " respect to the particular kinds of feed at different seasons of the 

 " year, and the system of feeding. I have found in my own 

 " practice, and in the practice of the most successful dairymen, 

 '' that, in order to encourage the largest secretion of milk in stalled 

 '' cows, one of the best courses is, to feed in the morning, either 

 " at the time of milking — which I prefer — or immediately after, 

 " with cut feed, consisting of hay, oats, millet, or corn-stalks, 

 " mixed with shorts, and Indian, linseed, or cotton-seed meal, 

 " thoroughly moistened with water. If in winter, hot or warm 

 " water is far better than cold. If given at milking-time, the 

 " cows will generally give down the milk more readily. The 

 " stalls and mangers ought always to be well cleaned out first. 



" Roots and long hay may be given during the day ; and at the 

 " evening milking, or directly after, another generous meal of cut 

 " feed, well moistened and mixed, as in the morning. No very 

 " concentrated food, like grains alone or oil-cakes, should, it seems 



