168 A SURPRISE. SUCCULENT FOOD. 



the growth, unless the heifer has been fed up to large 

 size and full development from the start, in which case 

 she may perhaps take the bull at fifteen or eighteen 

 months without injury. I have had several come in as 

 early as two years, and one at less than twenty months. 

 This last was not by design, however, and I would 

 rather have given a considerable sum than had it hap- 

 pen, as she was an exceedingly beautiful pure-bred Jer- 

 sey, and I was desirous to have her attain to good size 

 and growth. Even if a heifer comes in at two years, it 

 is generally thought desirable to let her run farrow for 

 the following year, which will promote her growth and 

 more perfect development. 



The feeding which young stock often get is not such 

 as is calculated to make good-sized or valuable cattle of 

 them. They are often fed on the poorest of hay or 

 straw through the winter, not unfrequently left exposed 

 to cold, unprotected and unhoused, and thus stinted in 

 their growth. This seems to me to be the very worst 

 economy, or rather no economy at all. Properly viewed, 

 it is an extravagant wastefulness which no farmer can 

 afford. No animal develops its good points under such 

 treatment ; and if the starving system is to be followed 

 at all, it had better be after the age of two or three 

 years, when the animal's constitution has attained 

 strength and vigor to resist ill treatment. 



To raise up first-rate milkers, it is absolutely neces- 

 sary to feed on dairy food even while young. No 

 matter how fine the breed is, if the calf is raised on 

 poor, short feed, it will never be so good a milker as if 

 raised on better keeping; and hence, in dairy dis- 

 tricts, where calves are raised at all, they ought to be 

 allowed the best pasture during the summer, and good 

 sweet and wholesome food during the winter. 



