1042 THE COMPLETE GRAZIER. BOOK XIL 



distillers' wash, to promote a flow of milk. Give drying cows a modi- 

 cum of hay daily. Keep the temperature of the house comfortably 

 warm, but not close. Study the way in which the winds blow, and open 

 and close the fresh air ventilators accordingly. Keep the stalls, wood- 

 work, and gutters thoroughly clean. Brush down all the animals at 

 least twice a week, thoroughly but yet not roughly there is a good deal 

 of art in grooming properly, and rub them down with dry straw each 

 time they are cleaned and bedded up. The gentle friction caused by 

 this, especially at bedding up for the night, reduces restlessness, and 

 predisposes them to sleep and quietness. Be careful to dry the udders 

 thoroughly after washing them, before the cows are milked. 



MARCH. 



Mangel is now very valuable, and much more nutritious than here- 

 tofore, as it has undergone a chemical change which has converted 

 the starch into sugar, and eliminated any objectionable principle 

 there may have been in the roots when first stored. If the mangel 

 should run short, the daily allowance may be partly or entirely cut 

 off, but its place must be taken by some other equally nutritious 

 food. A very good substitute may be found in malt-dust or bran, 

 say three or four pounds daily, and, if a more succulent form of food 

 is required, hot water may be thrown over the meal when being 

 prepared the previous day. This is a very efficient and satisfactory 

 method whenever roots are scarce. Exercise caution in exposing the 

 animals, especially those which have recently calved, to the treacher- 

 ously cold and bitter winds of the early part of this month. If cows 

 are let out for an airing, the yard will serve better than the paddock, 

 as the sheds will afford shelter when required. See caution given 

 last month as to cows getting wet. Attend to the condition of cows 

 about to calve as regards their bowels, and do not omit their daily 

 allowance of oil-cake. Remove them to a loose box or roomy double 

 stall; the former is preferable. Much danger is to be apprehended 

 from the too common system of keeping cows tied up when about to 

 calve. Give cows which have calved luke-warm drinks, avoiding large 

 draughts of cold water. The food should be at first thin but 

 moderately nourishing, its nutritive character being increased gradu- 

 ally. Rich food given suddenly is apt to induce milk fever. Draw 

 off the milk frequently, yet gently. Keep down all distension of the 

 udder, and look carefully for any appearances of inflammation in the 

 same. The gentle rubbing of the udder by the dairymaid will, at 

 this time, be peculiarly grateful to the animal. This process has 

 often been found preventive of bad attacks. Remove frequently the 

 old bedding, and renew it with clean sweet short-cut straw. Give 

 a handful of good hay occasionally, and keep a lump of rock salt in 

 the manger for the animal to lick. 



APRIL. 



Autumn-sown rye and vetches are at this season very useful for 



