20 THE dairyman's MANUAL. 



know how to manage their farms in the most suitable 

 manner for the production of soiling crops; and they are 

 near the markets where cheap concentrated food can be 

 procured. 



Some of the best fancy dairies are found near the large 

 cities, upon light and inferior soils which are unfit for 

 pastures and permanent meadows, but which are made 

 to produce heavy crops of roots, fodder corn, clover, or- 

 chard grass, millet, mixed peas and oats, and other kinds 

 of fodder ; and which, by the aid of the practice of ensi- 

 lage, are made to support, in many cases, one cow or 

 more tq each acre the year round. In some localities, 

 manure from the cities and special fertilizers are pro- 

 cured to aid in keeping these light lands in the highest 

 state of fertility; so that, on the whole, it may be said 

 that in choosing a dairy farm the experienced dairyman 

 is not bound by any circumstances, but may safely take 

 the best situation for his purpose, a favorable location 

 being of the greatest concern to him. 



In general, however, the dairyman would safely choose 

 a moderately level farm, well watered, having a some- 

 what firm clay loam soil, Ipng in a compact shape, with 

 a convenient spot near the center of it for his buildings, 

 and as near to a railroad station as possible. If there is a 

 permanent cool spring upon it, that would be a great ad- 

 vantage ; and if the spring is located near the dwelling, 

 and in a convenient place for the milk-house, it would 

 be still better. 



Perhaps the plan of the author's farm, given at figure 

 1, might be suggestive of what can be done in laying out 

 a farm for a dairy, which at first seemed to offer many 

 disadvantages. The soil is a light sand and far from 

 fertile naturally, but a swamp meadow contributed 

 ample supplies of rich muck, and a railroad station a few 

 miles only from New York City gave good facilities for 

 procuring abundance of manure to aid in growing root 



