44 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



Mr. PiEEPONT. I believe in feeding heavily the first 

 year, beginning with 1 i)Ound a day, and increasing to 3 

 jwunds the latter part of the winter. I want all the size 

 I can get the first year, as I think that is the cheapest time 

 to get the size; and the second year I want them to eat all 

 the ronghage they can, giving them but little grain, as my 

 theory is that that will make a cow of large digestive capac- 

 ity. Then the last three months before freshening, at two 

 and a half years of age, I begin to increase the grain, so as 

 to develop the udder. 



Mr. W. A. Harlow. What do you think about the milk- 

 ing machine ? 



Mr. PiERPONT. I think that the milking machine may be- 

 come practical, but that as yet it is not. 



The Cir AIRMAN. I will ask Mr. Jewett to tell us some- 

 thing al)out that. 



Mr. W. 0. Jewett. I believe thoroughly in milking 

 machines, but my plant is a little out of date, and I did not 

 care to put the necessary money into fixing it up, so I am 

 temporarily not using them. If I had a herd of heifers 

 started on the milking machine they would never give a bit 

 of trouble, but old cows wall sometimes hold up their milk, 

 just as when milked by hand, and for no apparent reason. 

 If you weigh the milk, strip the cows that do not give what 

 they should at any milking, and keep your power regular you 

 will have no trouble with the milking machine. I used 

 steam, and had a great deal of trouble in keeping the power 

 regular. 



Mr. TuRisrER. What do you think best, to pasture stock, 

 or soil them and keep them in the barn ? 



Mr. PiERPONT. If I had a pasture I should turn the 

 cow out to get whatever it had to offer. I do not think we 

 can afford to bring green crops to the cow, but I do think it is 

 economical to feed ensilage and hay nearly every day in the 

 year, 



Mr. W. C. Burt. I do not want any young man here to 

 think it costs $114 to raise calves. My experience is that it 

 never costs over $50 to raise a good heifer. 



