226 HOME LIFE IN FLORIDA. 



next step is to prepare a pen for their reception. A barn 

 or barn-yard or even a shed is not necessary in Florida for 

 the protection of stock, unless they are to be kept confined, 

 and this is rarely done with common stock. 



The first step is to clean the ground where the pen is to 

 be made, bearing in mind always that this spot will be the 

 future vegetable garden, especially on pine land, and it 

 Avill be enriched by the nightly penning of the cows. 



Many simply girdle the pine trees and leave them stand- 

 ing, to litter the ground with falling bark and boughs for 

 years to come, until they fall to the ground bodily, crush- 

 ing the fence or any valuable trees that may be near. This 

 is a slovenly mode of procedure, unworthy of a thrifty 

 farmer. 



It is a grand old axiom that '' Whatever is worth doing 

 is worth doing well," and we commend it to the attention 

 of nine tenths of our Florida farmers. 



In preparing the place for a coAV-pen, *' do it well ;" that 

 is, take every stump out of the ground, don't leave a sin- 

 gle one to be a perpetual eye-sore and a perpetual deposi- 

 tory for weeds and ants, which will surely take up their 

 abode around the stump where the plow can not reach 

 them. Let the ground be made clear of stumps and trash, 

 and then plow it thoroughly, two or three times if possible 

 before putting up the fence, which latter is usually made 

 of rails laid in the '' Virginia style," the " worm fence" of 

 the North. 



The size of the pen varies with the number of cows to 

 be penned, and this is a matter of which the settler must 

 judge for himself; but it is always about twice as long as 

 it is Avide, and should be so situated, if possible, that one 

 end abuts on the open Avoods and the other upon an in- 

 closed field or Avoodland, Avhere the calves may have a 

 range. It is a cruel thing to shut them up all day long in 



