No. 4.] MARKET MILK. 33 



Feed. — ISTo matter how good the dairjinan and how good 

 the cow, she must have sufficient feed, — pahitaWe, nourishing 

 feed, — - in order to be profitable. It does not pay to be stingy 

 with the feed. It requires considerable feed to maintain life ; 

 a little more makes a little milk, and a little more makes a 

 little profit, and if the cow will utilize a little more, there will 

 be a greater profit. We must raise all of our roughage, and 

 buy concentrates, rich in protein. With plenty of well-ma- 

 tured ensilage and early cut clover or alfalfa hay nicely cured 

 we have a balanced ration, and need not use much grain for 

 the cows of large digestive capacity. 



Ensilage is indispensable for the New England milk pro- 

 ducer. Fifteen to thirty tons can be grown on an acre. It is 

 easy to grow ; never fails ; takes more than ninety per cent of 

 its weight from the sun and water ; is conveniently harvested ; 

 takes up but little storage space ; is easy to feed ; is valuable 

 not alone for its carbohydrates and fat, which furnish fuel 

 for the body, but for its palatability and succulence, keeping 

 the bowels regulated, and making the winter months equal 

 June for milk production. In fact, I can make milk cheaper 

 in winter with it than in summer without it. Some progres- 

 sive dairj'mcn are filling their silos the first of June with rye 

 and clover for summer feeding. It has the advantage of 

 allowing one to use the same silo for two croi)s. But I am of 

 the o^jiiiion that corn ensilage is the chea})est feed, and also 

 the best feed ; and that the dair^'man does well who puts up 

 enough in the fall to feed every day in the year. I belie\'e it is 

 the cheapest feed on earth, keeps the cows in si)]endid condi- 

 tion, is conducive to good health, and keeps them yielding a 

 steady flow of milk. Corn does the best on turf ground. I 

 plant by hand three feet apart each way, four kernels in a hill. 



Last week I rode twuce across Indiana, and saw thousands 

 of acres of corn standing. Stock of all kinds were running 

 through it, and the appearance of buildings indicated that 

 much stock would be left exposed to the weather all winter, 

 and help themselves to corn in the field and wheat straw from 

 the stack. Such shiftless, wasteful farming Avould not be tol- 

 erated in New England. The small growth of corn, the 

 scrubby-looking stock, and the untidy, desolate-looking build- 



