34 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Ja\. 



half beer quarts a day for the whole year. It is 

 asserted, on good authority, that the flrst Ayr- 

 shire cow imported by the Massachusetts Socie- 

 ty for the promotion of Agriculture, in 1837, 

 yielded sixteen pounds of butter a week, for sev- 

 eral weeks in succession, on grass feed only. 

 These yields are not so large as those stated by 

 Alton ; but it should, perhaps, be recollected that 

 our climate is less favorable to the production of 

 milk than that of England and Scotland, and that 

 no cow imported after arriving st maturity could 

 be expected to yield as much, under the same 

 circumstances, as one bred on the spot where the 

 trial is made, and perfectly acclimated. 



THE MILK BUSINE3SS. 



The Springfielcl (Mass.) Hepuhlican furnishes 

 the following facts in relation to the supply of 

 milk for that city : 



We have made an effort to learn some of the 

 aggregates of this industry — to compare the av- 

 erage quantity of milk per cow in each herd ; and 

 to learn the different methods of feeding ; all 

 points of curious interest and suggestive value. 

 For this purpose circulars have been addressed 

 to most of the milkmen of this city, of course, 

 with varying success. All have not answered, 

 but enough have done so to give a nearer esti- 

 mate than otherwise would be possible. There 

 are from twelve to fourteen regular dealers of 

 milk in this city. Not far from 2,000 quarts, or 

 $100 worth, are sold daily through the year. 

 The highest quantity, sold by any one milkman, 

 in the best of the season, so far as known, is 400 

 quarts daily, and this man, in the average for the 

 year, is put down at 250 quarts. Taking all the 

 milkmen, the average is lG6x quarts each dai- 

 lj\ To raise this milk requires a herd of about 

 300 cows, which give, on an average, about seven 

 quarts. The force requisite to carry on this busi- 

 ness equals one man for every six cows, or an 

 aggregate of fifty men, summer and winter. The 

 best milkers, generally, are crosses of Short- 

 Horn with Ayrshire and Natives, but good milk- 

 ers can be found of almost every breed. 



The feed that produces the most milk is yet a 

 vexed question. In the opinions received, cot- 

 ton seed meal, corn, rye and buckwheat ground 

 together, and roots, with rowen hay, have equal 

 prominence. The order of feeding cows varies 

 with different individuals. Some feed roots the 

 first thing in the morning, and others late at 

 night. Some give hay the first thing, and oth- 

 ers reserve it till noon. Each feeder gives his 

 practice and reasons with equal freedom — which 

 is a very hopeful system in any debate. Our 

 conclusion is, that the best order is as follows : 

 AVet cut feed mixed with meal after each milk- 

 ing, with hay and roots between. Neither roots 

 nor grain should be fed upon an empty stomach. 

 In the first case, the milk is more likely to re- 

 ceive the odor of the roots. In the latter the ap- 

 petite is greatly impaired for other food. No fact 

 is more clearly established than that the flavor 

 and quality of the milk and flesh depend in part 

 upon the quality of the food. Various expedi- 

 ents have been resorted to counteract bad fla- 

 vors. The English heat their milk, and then add 

 saltpetre to it to prevent the taste of cabbages. 

 The Virginians slice and salt rutabagas, twelve 



hours before feeding, in order to escape that 

 odor. In this region, regularity in feeding, as 

 to quantity and time, by some is considered suf- 

 ficient remedy for common turnips. Experience 

 proves that corn and carrots make first quality 

 pork. Cows that give milk require more food in 

 proportion to their bulk than either oxen or 

 horses ; twenty-five to thirty pounds of dry hay 

 daily is the usual consumption of farm animals. 

 Of course, if roots or meal are added the con- 

 sumption will be less. 



SWINGING IN THE BABN. 



Swing away, 

 From the great cross-beam — 

 Through the scented clover-hay. 

 Sweet as any dream ! 



Higher yet ! 

 Up, between the eaves. 

 Where the grey doves cooing tilt 

 'Twixt the sun-gilt leaves. 



Here we go ! 

 Whistle, merry wind ! 

 'Tis a long day you must blow. 

 Lighter hearts to find. 



Swing away ! 

 Sweep the rough barn floor ' 

 While wo gaze on Arcady 

 Framed in by the door. 



One, two, three ! 

 Quick, the round red sun, 

 Hid behind yon twisted tree. 

 Means to end the fun ! 



Swing away ! 

 Over husks and grain ! 

 Shall we ever be as gay 

 If we swing again .' 



Fur the New England Fanner. 



THE KOBIN'S TITLE TO IMMUNITY 

 QUESTIONED. 



Mr. Editor : — In the Farmer of Nov. Gth, 

 some one sailing without colors is doubting my 

 sincerity, in respect to my communication regard- 

 ing the robin. Perhaps the injury sustained by 

 me, caused by the depredation of the robin, may 

 be of more immediate effect than that sustained 

 by my neighbors in their pastures, yet in my pas- 

 ture land I perceive an injury more lasting, for 

 I find it a slow operation to eradicate the wild 

 herbage, of which the seeds Avere distributed by 

 the troublesome birds. Did not man have do- 

 minion given him over the birds of the air, as 

 well as all things else? Our nameless friend asks 

 the question, "Did not the Power that created 

 the robin endow him with an instinct to sustain 

 life?" I answer, "Yes." Did he not give the 

 same power and instinct to the rattlesnake? then 

 why slay him? Would not that be selfish? Does 

 not the house-fly, that scavenger demanded by the 

 presence of fetid and corrupting matter, have in- 

 stinct to sustain his life? Did our unknown 

 friend ever destroy them by the use of German 

 fly-paper ? Did he ever devise or recommend 

 any phm for the destruction of the onion worm ? 

 I have no doubt his life is as dear to him as the 

 robin's, for he received it from the same great 

 source. Do not the insects that prey upon fruits 



