Ir^ ;, THE GENESEK FARMER. Ill ''^ ^^ 



desirable to have the cow at all fat ; but as it is often the case that owing to eating a 

 large bulk of comparatively non-nutritious food the cow becomes costive, and inflamma- 

 tion to a greater or less extent ensues, it is advisable to give more concentrated nutriment ; 

 and oil-cake, besides being more nutritious than any other food given to cattle, is a slight 

 aperient, and keeps the cow in a fine healthy state. It may be continued as long after 

 calving as the farmer pleases — it will do no harm — nothing, 'in fact, producing more 

 or richer milk. Whether it will pai/ to feed it, we are unable to say. Mangel wurzel 

 being also laxative and very nutritious, are valuable food for cows at this period ; and 

 nothing will pay a farmer better than to grow a few acres every year for this especial 

 purpose. Ruta baga are good, but are apt to give an unpleasant flavor to the butter. 

 They are not so aperient as mangel wurzel. After the cow has calved, she should have 

 some warm slops and be carefully attended. The first milk should be drawn out of the 

 bag before the calf sucks ; and afterwards, if the bag is hard, it is sometimes advisable 

 to get as much of the milk as possible previous to letting the calf suck, so that he may 

 knock on the udder, and well clean out all the milk. 



When fatting for the butcher, the calves should always be placed in a dark place and 

 be tied up, so that they can not run about. It is very necessaiy that they be often 

 well cleaned out and littered with plenty of clean straw. This will keep the calves 

 healthy, clean, and free from lice. In the celebrated cheese county of Cheshire, England, 

 the calves are never sufiered to suck the cows at all, but are fed with skim milk and 

 boiled linseed or oil-cake meal, which they are taught to drink out of a pan or pail. 

 We think this is an unnatural plan, and the benefits derived by it do not, or at least 

 would not in this country, counter-balance the extra trouble. When designed for rear- 

 ing, this plan may have its advantages ; but the calf at first should undoubtedly be fed 

 with the biestings or first milk, as, being the natural food, it is best adapted for the 

 functions of the stomach and bowels. It is slightly purgative, and cleans out the black 

 foeces which are in the calf when born. After the first week or two the fresh milk may 

 be substituted by skim milk and boiled linseed or oil-cake, which should be given two 

 or three months before the calf is weaned. Nothing pays better than to keep rearing 

 calves well the first four months, giving them a good start in life. We would not advise 

 the confinement of rearing calves ; for, though it may conduce to laying on fat, the for- 

 mation of muscles and bones and the general health of the animal is lessened. 



Every one knows the great necessity there is of being gentle and kind to cows, so 

 that they may be quiet and peaceful, and not stand trembling in durance vile while 

 being milked. It is this that accounts for the opinion that a cow will give a dsdrj-maid 

 more milk than she will to a man. We think a man, during the milking season, has 

 seldom any business near a cow, his great, rough, hard hands, and still harder heart, 

 rendering him unfit for a good milker ; while a gentle, rosy dairymaid, with her kind 

 words, soft hands, and " So, so, my good bossy," seated on a three legged stool, will 

 fetch out the milk till the froth runs over the pail. Cows should be milked regularly 

 the same hours every day, and should have access to water and shelter at all times. 





Willows. — There are $5,000,000 worth of willows imported into this country every 

 year from Belgium and France, for making baskets, and for other purposes. They sell 

 for 1125 per ton, and the demand is greatly increasing, and is now much greater than 

 the supply. They grow equally well in America as in Belgium, but need low, swampy 

 land, that is fit for nothing else. They need no cultivation at all. In planting the first 

 time, all that is necessary is to stick the cuttings into the soil m the spring. The next 

 fall th<> first years' shoots should be cut down ; and the next year they will come out 

 tliick and strong, and yield an abundant and most profitable crop. The conimon Eng-, 

 lish willow, or osier, is the best variety for baskets. 



