MILCH COWS. 101 



and about nine, turn out to water, leaving them out a longer or 

 shorter time, according to the state of the weather. I now 

 clean out the barn and arrange the bedding. If the weather be 

 cold, they will return as soon as they have drunk, when I give 

 them another foddering, and while they are eating it I give 

 them a gentle carding, and then leave them till three o'clock. 



I have heard some sneer at and others doubt the economy of 

 the time spent in carding cattle. I believe it pays pecuniarily, 

 and if I knew it did not, I should (if I could afford time,) con- 

 tinue to do it, thinking myself amply rewarded for the trouble 

 by the improved appearance of my stock, and the loving look I 

 receive from each cow, as she stretches on tip-toe and curls her 

 tail on her back at my approach. 



At three, I feed again, and at four, if the weather is not very 

 inclement, again turn out to water and fix up the barn. When 

 the cows return they find a nice mouthful in their cribs, and at 

 six, are milked again, and afterwards receive a good supply of 

 the poorer kind of fodder for their consideration during the 

 night. If the weather be warm, the cows will frequently 

 remain out the greater part of the day ; and, sometimes, on 

 very cold days, I only let them out once, about noon ; in these 

 cases their times of feeding are ' of course varied to meet the 

 circurastaijces. Before feeding, I always clean out the cribs, 

 throwing aside whatever may be left for litter, with which, 

 either in tlie shape of refuse hay or sawdust, I keep them 

 always moderately supplied. At intervals of a week or ten 

 days, I give each cow a half peck to a peck of small potatoes 

 raw, as an alterative, and every three or four days I give .each 

 about an ounce of salt. 



Abovit a week before I expect each cow to calve, I put her at 

 night into a good-sized, well-littered pen, but do not otherwise 

 vary her treatment. Three days after calving I begin to give her 

 better feed, and, if all be well, in five days I consider my milk 

 factories in good working order, and supply them with materials 

 accordingly. Tlio calves, if destined for the butcher, are 

 allowed to suck the cows tiir tliey are sold ; if to be raised, I 

 usually let them suck once, and afterwards feed them from the 

 pail with new milk till they arc two weeks old, when, by 

 degrees, skimmed milk is substituted for the new, and at about 

 six weeks their allowance of milk is gradually lessened to about 



