1858. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



131 



For the Neic England Farmer. 

 SPAYING COWS. 

 Mr. Editou : — To those Avho are raising milk, 

 in the vicinity of large towns, it has become a 

 matter of serious inquiry how the various sources 

 of loss, to which tliey are subject in their business, 

 can be avoided. In very many instances these 

 losses are sufficient to absorb all the profits. 

 These sources of loss, in addition to the diseases 

 to which cows are subject, are chiefly three. 1st, 

 The periodical heats which are natural to cows 

 that are not with calf. It is well known that du- 

 ring these periods the quantity of the milk is 

 diminished and its quality impaired. 2d, The 

 milk of cows with calf, after the fourth month, is 

 deteriorated in quality, and soon begins to dimin- 

 ish in quantity. After the sixth month it is rare- 

 ly sufficient to pay for the keeping. Many cows 

 become dry soon after the sixth month ; and even 

 when they would continue to give milk a few 

 weeks longer, most cows are allowed to go dry 

 after the seventh month, to enable them to bear 

 the draught made upon their constitutional pow- 

 ers by breeding, and to recruit for the subsequent 

 milking. Here, then, is a loss of profit for about 

 one-fourth part of the year. 3d, Many cows lose 

 their calves prematurely. This is a source of loss 

 that seems involved in much mystery. It some 

 times exists, apparantly, as an epidemic. A large 

 proportion of the cows in a herd will sometimes 

 be subject to it. It prevails in some seasons more 

 than in others, and sometimes seems to be con- 

 fined chiefly to certain localities. Sympathy, it 

 is believed, in many instances, has much to do 

 with it. When one cow from any cause has lost 

 her calf, others associated with her will become 

 similarly afl'ected. It has been ascribed to various 

 causes, but the cause or causes are by no means 

 satisfactorily ascertained. In this vicinity it is 

 one of the most serious evils that the milk raisers 

 have to encounter. 



One gentleman of my acquaintance has had 

 five cows lose their calves during the past season. 

 Three of them were promising heifers, all of 

 which lost their calves in ihe pasture. The other 

 two were older, and were kept at home. Another 

 has lost five, and another eight. INIany others 

 have lost more or less. Now these cows must be 

 kept another year before coming into milk again. 

 And there must be a loss upon them of at least 

 twenty-five dollars cash, unless they are in a con 

 dition to be turned to the butcher. If they are, 

 this is probably the most profitable disposition 

 that can be made of them, for in addition to the 

 cost of keeping them dry nearly a year, they will 

 be more likely to be affected in a similar way 

 again. But it is a disappointment to the milk 

 raiser, who has made his arrangements to obtain 

 his supply of milk from them, and it is often dif 

 ficult, if not impossible, to supply their places 

 with cows coming in at the time when they are 

 wanted. The farmer who has lost five calves in 

 this way has lost at least $125. Now how can 

 these evils be avoided ? Is there any system of 

 management by which they can be prevented ? 



In some parts of Europe, and especially in the 

 neighborhoods of Paris and Brussels, the milk 

 raisers are adopting the practice of spaying their 

 cows, by which they are enabled to avoid all these 

 sources of loss. They avoid the periodical heats, 



and the milk remains uniform in quality and 

 quantity through the year. The cows become 

 more quiet and contented, and are more easily 

 kept in good condition. They avoid the loss from 

 the cows going dry one-fourth part of the year, 

 and of course all losses from abortion will be 

 avoided. The most proper time for doing the 

 operation is about six weeks after calving, or as 

 soon as the cow gets well over the effects of calv- 

 ing, and has recovered her strength and vigor, 

 and got weaned from her calf. It is confidently 

 stated that they will continue to give as much 

 milk for two or three and sometimes four years, 

 as they did at the time the operation Avas per- 

 formed, and that the milk will be of better qual- 

 ity, and that when they begin to go dry that they 

 will fatten much more easily, and make better 

 beef. 



The benefit of this operation will be confined 

 to those who do not raise their cows, but who 

 keep cows for their milk only, as market men and 

 families who keep one or two coavs. If the state- 

 ments which come to us from Europe are true, 

 eight good cows spayed at five or six years old, 

 or when they have reached their full milking age, 

 are worth at least as much as twelve treated in 

 the common way. The operation is easily per- 

 formed, and we do not learn that it is attended 

 with any special danger. The operation has re- 

 cently been performed in this town with entire 

 success by a gentleman who is qualified to per- 

 form it in a skilful and scientific manner. The 

 subject is worthy the consideration of milk rais- 

 ers and of families who have a good cow which 

 they would be glad to retain in milk all the year 

 round, and for several successive years. 



Concord, Jan. 12, 1858. 



For the New Englarid Farmer, 



CULTUKE OF INDIAN COBN. 



Messrs. Editors : — Indian corn is manifestly 

 the most important grain crop raised in New Eng- 

 land. Our soil and climate admit of greater im- 

 provements in the culture of this crop than any 

 other our fields produce. The corn plant will 

 draw nourishment from almost any kind of ma- 

 nure that can be applied to the soil, and there is 

 very little danger of an excessive application. 

 We can prepare a field for an extraordinary crop 

 of corn, and after that is taken off, the land will 

 be in excellent condition to receive the seed of 

 some other grain or grass. The cultivation of 

 this plant occupies a prominent place in good 

 husbandry. It is a subject of lamentation that 

 it does not command more attention and receive 

 more effectual encouragement. Much less corn 

 is planted, within the circle of the writer's knowl- 

 edge, now, than thirty years ago. The neglect 

 is painfully felt in a year like this, when it is very 

 difficult to command money to supply the defi- 

 ciency. Various causes have been in operation 

 to divert attention from the culture of this very 

 useful plant. We think the criticisms on the 

 measurement of corn crops, often made with very 

 little knowledge of the manner in which it is 

 done, and suggestions of the dishonesty of ap- 

 plicants for premiums, have had some influence 

 in the case. In your paper of Dec. 13th, there 

 is mention of a crop of corn raised by the writer 



