THE DAIRY. 295 



effort, to unite these two irreconcileable properties, have proved 

 that the different breeds of neat cattle have not hitherto been 

 brought to entire perfection." We have many instances on 

 record, in which our native cattle have proved themselves not 

 only very superior milkers, as regards quantity and quality, 

 but that when put up, they take on fat equal to the best of 

 imported stock. 



The pasture and other food best adapted for cows as it 

 regards their milk, are merely referred to here, as they are 

 treated of more fully under their respective heads.* The 

 animal should be suited to the fertility of the soil and as re- 

 marked in the article on grazing, cattle ought not to be brought 

 from superior to inferior pastures for instances have occurred 

 in which six cows fed on some pastures, have yielded as much 

 milk as nine or even twelve will afford on inferior ground. 



The food, of whatever kind, should be well prepared, and 

 administered at regular intervals. On exactness in this respect 

 a great measure of success depends. Milch cows require a 

 full supply of the most nutritious and succulent food and it is 

 not only essential that it be of a good quality, but that it be of 

 such quality as is relished by the cattle. Many dairymen pas- 

 ture their cows during summer others, the practice is becom- 

 ing more general, have adopted the soiling system. In win- 

 ter, stall-feeding is recommended and generally adopted. But 

 the utmost order and regularity should be observed. The 

 building should be well ventilated in winter as well as in sum- 

 mer cleansed every day in the most perfect manner the 

 cows should all be curried, and have a plentiful supply of 

 water, which, if well thickened with Indian meal, will be the 

 better.t 



Some experienced and intelligent graziers and dairymen, 

 maintain that good natural pastures are far superior to the best 

 of roots and the artificial grasses, producing a greater yield of 

 milk, and a better flavour in the butter, than is produced from 

 soiling. No farmer should be deterred, however, from this 

 opinion, from feeding his dairy stock on the soiling principle, 

 as the advantages of that over the old system are great, and 

 may be ascertained by any one who will take the pains to pro- 

 mote his own interest, by making a fair and just experiment. 



Much more generally depends upon the construction of 



* See articles Grazing, Soiling, Stall-feeding, Hay, Grass, Roots, &c. &c. 



t EZKKIEL RHODES, a worthy farmer of Montgomery county, and a man of 

 great observation and penetration, says That within one week after his 

 sugar-beets were exhausted, the butter from his cows was reduced one-third, 

 (within a fraction,) and that the butter he made and sold during the time his 

 cows weie fed mainly on sugar-beets, was in much higher repute than it had 

 ever been before. 



