No. 4.J DAIRY CATTLE. 65 



our cows individually ; sold a number of the poorest, and started 

 a search for butter-producing food. 



I have italicized the following words in the foregoing quo- 

 tation, care, comfoi^table, test, dissatisfied with so low a yield, 

 sold, search, and desire to call your attention to the fact that 

 they constitute the key-stones to the development of Mr. 

 Widmann into a successful dairyman ; and what this mill of 

 education has done for him it will do for me, for you, or 

 any other man who submits himself to its logic without con- 

 ceit or prejudice. Here is a bit of his personal experience 

 that may prove interesting : — 



Not having much land for pasture that summer, we concluded 

 that feeding grain was necessary. We fed about two pounds cot- 

 ton-seed meal and bran as long as the cotton-seed meal lasted, 

 which was until July 1, after which we fed nothing but bran. The 

 omission of cotton-see'd meal resulted in a decrease of both quan- 

 tity and quality of milk. We have concluded to feed grain in 

 summer hereafter. It will take less land for pasture. 



(How many think of that? Sometimes we cannot help 

 ourselves ; our pasture is of such a character that it is not 

 worth much for anything else.) 



The cows will do better — not go dry as long — be in better 

 condition the following winter. The largest average daily amount 

 of milk and butter we ever received was the following October, 

 while they were feeding on new seeding of clover during the day, 

 kept in the stable at night, and fed twenty pounds of ensilage, 

 three pounds of oil meal and four of bran. 



Note this combination : succulent food, clover and ensi- 

 lage, with a strong ration of milk-producing solids, and 

 keeping in the barn at night, so that the chill of night air, 

 in October even, should not detract from the profitable ac- 

 tion of the milk-producing function. Here we see clearly 

 disclosed the working of certain principles. 



Again : — 



We endeavor to give to each cow in the herd our personal atten- 

 tion, and feed them individually, according to the capacity of each. 



I have italicized the words individually and capacity. I 



