130 CORRESPONDENCE. 



arjd ever have been, exceptions to such a rule : when 

 we have an extraordinary cow for the dairy, we should 

 by all means rear her calf: such calves will bring an 

 extra price at two years old, and will then become 

 breeders themselves, if we take good care of them. 

 They will also well pay the cost of rearing: if they 

 are kept properly the first winter, they will be quite 

 large enough for breeders at two years of age ; and they 

 make much better cows than if suffered to go longer 

 without calves, for the younger the animal is ivhcn its 

 lacteals or milk-vessels are first distended^ the greater 

 will he the produce of milk. It is therefore an impor- 

 tant object to take such care of calves that they may 

 be large enough for breeders at two years old. Two 

 weeks ago we sold two heifers, that were not over ten 

 months old, for thirty dollars. We suffered them to 

 take about half the milk for three months — the first 

 half — saving the richest part for butter. Since they 

 were put up to hay they have daily had two quarts 

 each of ruta baga, cut fine with a spade on the barn 

 floor. They have been gaining flesh ever since they 

 were put up. 



Stock Farms. As prices are, stock farms must be 

 encouraged. We have found this the most profitable 

 branch of husbandry. Bat instead of purchasing large 

 pampered animals from abroad, we would be ambitious 

 of selecting the best-shaped animals for breeders, and 

 from these select those giving the richest milk, or those 

 best calculated for draft. We think it possible to 

 select and rear a breed that shall prove excellent for 

 both milk and draft. 



One good cow may have a bad calf — she may have 

 come from a bad cow — but, by continuing to breed 

 from good ones, there can be do doubt of succeeding in 

 the improvement of the breed, so as to come near per- 

 fection. This has been done in other countries, and 

 may be done here. Still it must be considered, if the 



