CHAPTER XXXVII 
THE HEADMAN’S JOB 
Our life at Four Oaks began in earnest in 
January, 1897. Even during the winter months 
there was no lack of employment and interest 
for the Headman. I breakfasted at seven, and 
from that time until noon I was as busy as if I 
were working for $20 a month. The master’s 
eye is worth more than his hand in a factory like 
mine. My men were, and are, an unusual lot, 
— intelligent, sober, and willing, — but they, 
like others, are apt to fall into routine ways, and 
thereby to miss points which an observing pro- 
prietor would not overlook. 
The cows, for instance, were all fed the same 
ration. Fifteen pounds of mixed grains was 
none too much for the big Holstein milk-makers, 
who were yielding well and looking in perfect 
health ; but the common cows were taking on 
too much flesh and falling off in milk. I at once 
changed the ration for these six cows by leaving 
out the corn entirely and substituting oat straw 
for alfalfa in the cut feed. The change brought 
good results in five of the cows; the other one 
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