AND RURAL ECONOMIST. 45 



they require less keep and icalk faster. When first I com- 

 menced farmer, I followed the example of my predecessor in 

 feeding chiefly oxen ; but I soon found that cows fattened 

 much faster, and on less meal, and for some years past I 

 have carefully avoided having any oxen in my stalls.' 



Cows which are shortly expected to calve ought to be 

 lodged at night in some convenient place under cover for a 

 week or two before calving, as it might be the means of 

 saving the life of the calf, and perhaps of t.'.e dam likewise. 

 The dr y and night after a cow has calved she should be kept 

 under cover, and her drink should be lukewarm. Let her 

 not be exposed for some time to the dampness of the night. 



Cows which are near calving ought to be fed with better 

 and more substantial food than usual. Grain of any kind is 

 now useful, but it should be crushed, bruised, or coarsely 

 ground. If the cleaning of a cow after calving be delayed, 

 it may be promoted, according to Deane's New England Far- 

 mer, by giving her a pail of warm water with some ashes 

 in it; or, according to the Grazier's (jiuide., the only thing 

 to be given is toast and weak wine, or good cider or perry. 

 If wine be preferred, mix it with an equal quantity of water. 

 This toast should consist of four pints of wine and water, 

 and about a pound and a half of bread toasted. 



Inflamed teats should be washed with two drachms of 

 sugar of lead in a quart of water. Should tumors appear, 

 apply a common warm mash of bran with a little lard. 



To prevent cows from sucking their own milk, it is said 

 that rubbing the teats frequently with the most fetid cheese 

 that can be procured is an effectual remedy. 



In order that it may be ascertained what is the proper 

 time for cows to go dry previous to their calving, an account 

 should be kept of the time when each cow is put to bull, so 

 that the cow may be dried off in due season. The following 

 prescription for drying off cows is given in Monk^s Agricul- 

 tural Dictionary. 



Take an ounce of powdered alum; boil it in two quarts 

 of milk till it turns to whey ; then take a large handful of 

 sage, and boil it in the whey till you reduce it to one quart ; 

 rub her udder with a little of it, and give her the rest by 

 way of drink ; milk her clean before you give it to her ; 

 and as you see need repeat it. Draw a little milk from her 

 every second or third day, lest her udder be overcharged. 



Coiv-kouse or Stable. The floor under a cow-house should 

 be very tight, so that none of the stale may be lost, which, 



