No. 4.] HINTS FOR DAIRYMEN. 273 



PRACTICAL HINTS FOR THE DAIRYMAN. 



BY PROF. F. S. COOLEY, MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE, 



AMHERST. 



We have just passed one of the very trying seasons of the 

 year for dairymen. The drj'ing up of pastures, falling off 

 of feed, August heat and flies make an adverse combination 

 hard for the average feeder to meet. But improved manage- 

 ment has not entirely ignored the needs of the past months, 

 and we are becominoj better and better able to overcome 

 these difficulties. The successful dairyman finds it very im- 

 portant to prevent the shrinkage in milk, for it is apt to be 

 permanent. Cows that fall off seriously in milk, owing to 

 short feed, rarely regain their former product during the 

 season, even if food is given later in abundance. 



Partial Summer Soiling. 

 While the writer is not an enthusiast over the soiling sys- 

 tem, having experienced some of its difficulties, he is fully 

 convinced of the necessity of providing some supplementary 

 fodder for milch cows during July and August. Against 

 those who advocate green feed throughout the season as 

 more profitable than pasturage, I have no argument to make. 

 I venture the opinion, however, that the novice will often 

 enviously look at his neighbors' pastures during his first 

 attempt at summer soiling. A good pasture is a great con- 

 venience on a dairy farm. Pastures do not, however, pro- 

 duce evenly throughout the season. There is always a 

 surfeit in May and June and a shortage afterward. It is 

 good husbandry to stock pastures heavily, so that the early 

 flush of feed may be utilized, as it checks a tendency to 

 "grow wild" that has spoiled so many good pastures. 

 Good husbandry also demands the provision of feed of some 

 sort to eke out the pasture feed in late summer. The best 



