CHAP. II. -DAIKY COW CALENDAR. 1043 



dairy-cows, and are generally sufficiently advanced in growth to be 

 ready by the middle of the month. Thousand-headed kale should be 

 grown so as to be ready for cutting at this time, for it can be relied 

 upon to aiford a heavy crop, even in years when other crops are 

 backward, and is thus a safeguard against shortness of keep at the 

 most critical period of the dairy-year. To be really good it should 

 have been sown in a seed-bed in the preceding spring, and trans- 

 planted out on good land in June or July. Gradually accustom the 

 cows to this green food. Bring in cows turned out to pasture at 

 nights, and keep them housed on cold, wet, and raw days. Keep 

 cows in full milk housed, as they will yield more when not exposed 

 to the cold of the pastures. For other treatment as to food, &c., 

 &c., see previous months. 



MAY. 



Cows wnich have been recently and are in full milk should now 

 be yielding the largest profit. Much will, however, depend upon the 

 feeding and general treatment. As green food ought now to be 

 abundant, feed the cows liberally upon it, taking care to accustom 

 them gradually to it. Give as frequent changes of food as possible, 

 and if soiled as this will pay best turn the cows out to the yard or 

 paddock daily. Brush and wisp them fairly often, and well ventilate 

 the byres or cow-houses. Pastures should now be coming to their 

 best, the grass being sweet, succulent, and plentiful. Turn out cows 

 intended to be pastured; but, especially in the case of those in full 

 milk, it will pay best to house them at night for a time. If the grass is 

 very succulent and the cows scour, some dry food should be given to 

 counteract it, and undecorticated cotton-cake is about the best 

 astringent. There is no time when a little attention in this way pays 

 better, yet it is rarely given. On thoroughly rainy days, keep the cows 

 housed. 



JUNE. 



Cows at pasture should have a change of pasture once a week so as to 

 afford them the advantages of change of " bite," as well as to give the 

 grass an opportunity to grow. Avoid the overstocking of pastures, as 

 both these and the cows feeding off them will suffer. Cows soiled in the 

 house and court should have cut grass now given them in abundance, 

 as change from the other green forage, the various succession of crops 

 coming in regularly to keep up the supply, If the weather is very hot 

 the cows are best kept in the yard and soiled, otherwise they " gad," 

 and produce but little milk. Give to cows brought in at nights from 

 pastures a " handful " of good hay and a little oil-cake ; increase the 

 allowance of this, and the varieties of food, to animals which appear 

 falling off in their milk. Eefrigerate all milk that is to be sent to a 

 distance; this is necessary at all seasons, but particularly throughout 

 the hot weather. 



JULY. 



The remarks of last month will apply almost wholly to this ; but if 



3x2 



