THE DAIRY QUESTION — OLD STYLE. 227 



the pen without food or shelter ; and yet this is, we are 

 sorry to say, the common practice all over the State. 



The pen must have two entrances from the outside, one 

 into the pen, the other into the field ; and these are made 

 by arranging one panel of the fence so that the rails may 

 be easily slipped back and one end dropped to the ground. 



Across or near the center of the inclosure another fence 

 is run to divide it into two pens, for without this precau- 

 tion there would be *'no end" of confusion during the 

 milking process; this too must have a panel arranged in 

 the center with drop rails, thus affording an easy access 

 from one division to the other. 



And now every thing is ready for the reception of the 

 expected guests, and the more there are of these the better, 

 not only that the family may have a good supply of milk, 

 but that the future garden-spot may be the richer. 



We have already intimated pretty plainly that Florida 

 cows are not remarkable for the large quantity of milk 

 they yield. One that will give two quarts and a pint at 

 a milking, the calf taking a liberal share of the same, is 

 regarded as a better cow than the average, and yet what 

 Northern farmer would give shelter to this "better coav?" 

 Not one, for he could not afford it ; but in our genial cli- 

 mate the question of expense for shelter and food is not 

 considered, for they are not required. In the first place, 

 cows are cheap ; an " extra good one " can be bought for 

 $20, and the average kinds, $12 to $15, always, be it un- 

 derstood, with a young calf; for, as the Chinaman says, 

 "no calfee, no milkee ! " In the second place, the value 

 of land that has been cow-penned is greatly enhanced, so 

 highly (and justly so) is it valued, that many Floridians 

 purchase herds of cattle for the sole purpose of penning 

 them up at night. 



The vast pine forests are filled with the far-famed wire- 



