CHAP. XIX.] FARMING FOR LADIES. 375 



Its striking against the udder with its head, 

 in the act of sucking, has Hkewise a ma- 

 terial effect in reducing any hardness or 

 lumps in it. The cow is, besides, not un- 

 frequently feverish after calving, " and no- 

 thing" — it has been well observed — " soothes 

 or quiets her so much as the presence of her 

 little one." 



The cow produces the greatest quantity of 

 milk for a few months after calving, when it 

 gradually falls off, and at the end of about 

 ten months, or little more than six weeks 

 previous to her next calving, it ceases. She 

 is then technically said to " run dry ;" but 

 if she be not again in calf, she will continue 

 to give milk for a much longer time. When 

 dry, it is, however, neither necessary, nor 

 prudent, to feed her so highly as when she 

 is milked ; for less nutritious food, of a some- 

 what opening nature, will facilitate her future 

 calving. The hay on which she is chiefly 

 fed at the season when she usually becomes 

 dry, may therefore, during that time, be 

 diminished, and turnips, brewers'-grains, and 

 bran mashes substituted. It is, indeed, the 

 common custom of dairy-men to then feed 

 their cows only upon straw and Swedish tur- 



