816 THE PEOPLE'S FARM AND STOCK CYCLOPEDIA. 



of green crops that will last through the season and furnish a 

 palatable ration at all times. This will be considered under the 

 head of Soiling Crops. 



Keeping the cattle clean on food that would cause a large 

 amount of voidings especially cows that are to be milked 

 would seem to be a difficult matter. I believe, however, that 

 with a properly constructed stable there would be little diffi- 

 culty ; but the floor must be of just the right length so that the 

 manure-ditch will receive the droppings. Mr. Peer says : " I 

 have had a solid white cow in my stable for three years, sum- 

 mer and winter, and never remember seeing a manure-stain on 

 her flanks, legs, or udder, and the same is true of all my cows." 



"Who Should Soil? It is rarely wise for a farmer to 

 make a sudden and radical change in the management of his 

 farm, and I would not by any means advise the immediate 

 general adoption of this system. There can be no question as 

 to the wisdom of its adoption by the farmer of small means 

 and a few acres, for it would enable him to largely increase 

 his profits and improve the condition of his soil. The few 

 acres of land which, under the common plan of management, 

 would employ less than half a man's time, would keep him 

 profitably at work during the entire summer if a few cows 

 were soiled. Most farmers should feel their way into it. Let 

 them first grow some extra crops, to be fed in order that the 

 pastures may carry more stock, or that they may be able to 

 provide extra food in case of drought. 



I think that on all farms where there is some land unsuited 

 for cultivation it would be found more profitable to adopt a sys- 

 tem of partial soiling. The month of May and the first half of 

 June is the grand pasture season, and stock of all kinds will do 

 better on pasture at this season than anywhere else ; but with 

 the advent of summer heat and flies, every dairyman knows how 

 difficult it is to keep up the flow of milk, or to keep stock gain- 

 ing. By keeping one field on the farm in permanent pasture 

 seeded with the grasses which start early in spring, the slock 

 could be allowed to graze for six weeks or two months in an 

 early season and the period of soiling considerably shortened. 



